The number of drug driving offences detected in Monaghan has doubled over the last year, while the number of burglaries has fallen by over 60 per cent.
Figures released by local Gardaí show the number of crimes overall has fallen in 2021, when compared with the same period last year.
Monaghan's Joint Policing Committee heard drug driving offences have doubled in the first three months of this year, from seven to 14 detections.
Chief Superintendent Aidan Glackin told the meeting that the number of offences detected "gives concern", particularly "the use of cocaine".
Sexual offences increased from four to six and there were four more thefts from shops recorded, giving a total of 26 across the county.
Possession of an offensive weapon was the only other category to see an increase with three recorded, versus none in early 2020.
Drink driving detections fell from 58 to 40 over the same period and the number of burglaries fell by 40 to 23 this year, a drop of 64 per cent.
The meeting this week heard Covid restrictions continue to impact on some types of offences, with public order incidents falling by 34 per cent.
199 drugs searches have been carried out in the county since the last JPC meeting in November, with 62 seizures being made or €1.2 million worth of drugs.
