Last week saw the perfect illustration of the hyping of crime beyond all reason. The purpose of doing so was flogging newspapers, scoring political points, but ultimately, spreading fear.

If crime was icecream, or cattle feed, you could hype its prevalence to kingdom come and no harm would really come of it. With crime, however, grossly exaggerating its incidence induces fear.

Groups like the elderly, or people living in the rougher parts of town, are likely to feel serious discomfort when repeatedly told their safety and possessions are in immediate danger.

The headline on last week's Sunday Times read: 'Ireland Has Worst Crime Rate in EU'.

The following day, the Daily Mail blazed: 'Ireland Tops EU Sex Crime Table Of Shame'.

Both headlines were bogus, misleading and designed to induce fear.

The respective stories referred to the EU International Crime Survey, which is conducted in 17 countries. It interviews people on their perceptions and experience of the criminal justice system.

A total of 2,000 respondents take part in each country.

The interviewees are phoned and asked about their experience and perception of crime. If somebody phoned you and asked whether you thought crime was rising, what would you say? Even if you had no direct experience?

Certainly, anybody who engages with the media or listens to politicians might perceive that we're all going to hell in a handbasket.

Hype begets hype even when there is no factual basis for it. So the answers extracted in a tiny, unrepresentative sample poll, provided two newspapers with the opportunity to trumpet the end of civilisation in this country.

British newspaper titles spreading fear is one thing, but far more interesting is the politician playing support. Jim O'Keeffe, Fine Gael's spokesman for justice, tries hard to be tough guy number two.

On Sunday, his party were out of the blocks fast, triggering fear with a press release at 7.09am. O'Keeffe told the Times that the survey was "a damning, independent, and objective assessment of the current government's failure to adequately address crime issues."

Was it, Jim? Or do you take the public to be complete fools?

I have another question for Jimbo. If he was briefed that Martians had landed on Banna Strand, would he automatically condemn immigration policy?

On Tuesday, following the kidnapping and robbery involving a bank official's family, O'Keeffe sank further into the mire. "This kidnapping is a clear indication that the EU survey was accurate, " he said. One, albeit traumatising, incident had, in Jimbo's mind, rendered Ireland a crime-ridden society.

It's all about votes, however cheaply they may be harvested. Focus group polls, in which parties find out what's bothering voters and then tell them what they want to hear, indicate that crime is a worrying issue. (How could it not be with the level of hype about? ) It matters not that at 25 crimes per 1,000 population, the country is one of the safest in western Europe and beyond. What matters is perception. And Fine Gael in particular is determined to feed off and enhance the fear of crime. If that involves scaring the living daylights out of some people, so be it.

Leading this crusade is tough guy number one, Enda Kenny. If you're going to be tough on crime, you need a tough guy to lead, preferably on a horse. Enda made a fool of himself in the Dail in May when he related how he was once accosted by knife wielding thugs and was prepared to fight for his life.

Persistent questions revealed that the incident happened not in Ireland but a poorly developed African country. What was interesting was how he told the yarn. He wasn't scared witless, as most of us might have been. He was prepared to fight for his life.

He is a tough guy. He has character and he has a formula.

Talk tough. Be afraid. Send in the clowns and be very afraid.