Athlone has recorded a five year peak in local crime levels according to new justice figures.
The Garda station in the town is one of a number which have seen crime levels increase beyond pre-pandemic levels.
An analysis of crime figures by the Irish Independent has shown that 119 stations across the country saw the highest reported crime figures in five years.
Locations such as Athlone, Naas, Wexford and Portlaoise were among the stations recording higher levels, with crime levels nationally jumping over 12 percent.
The Longford Roscommon Garda Division was one of four divisions in the country that saw crime levels drop from before the Covid 19 Pandemic.
The Mayo Division which operates with Longford Roscommon along with the Cork West and Wicklow Garda Divisions also saw lower levels in spite of the overall national rise.
The crime category with the biggest jump was murder according to the analysis of the CSO figures over the last 5 years.
Meanwhile, two Garda stations in Tipperary had the lowest recorded crime levels last year with just two offences reported in each in 2022.
