Sex crimes on the rise in T&T

(Trinidad Express) Sexual offences and kidnappings were at an all time high last year than any other time over the past five years, according to statistics from the Crime and Problem Analysis Branch (CAPA) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

Last year 1,020 sexual offences were reported, according to CAPA’s statistics.

There were 241 more sexual offences reported last year than in 2009, which accounted for the second highest figure in the five year period.

Last year 180 kidnappings were reported, according to CAPA’s statistics.

There were 20 more kidnappings reported last year than in 2009 which accounted for the second highest figure in the past five years.

National Security Minister Jack Warner yesterday provided the crime statistics over the past five years—from January 1, 2008 to December 30 last year—to the media.

He assumed the portfolio on June 25, last year, replacing Brigadier John Sandy.

Warner had previously stated that he did not have any intention to release crime statistics saying that the media were twisting the figures.

“Make your own judgment,” Warner stated in the release yesterday.

In a television interview on December 31, last year Warner said that there was drastic reduction in crime under his watch.

According to the CAPA statistics, there were less serious crimes last year than any other time over the last five years with the exception of 2011 when the country had a three month long State of Emergency.

There were 17,533 serious crimes reported last year, according to CAPA’s statistics.

In 2011, there were 15,877 serious crimes reported.

The third lowest year in the five year period was 2008 when 18,739 serious crimes were reported.

The Northern Division of the Police Service accounted for the most serious crimes in the country for last year with a total 3,088.

The Eastern Division recorded the least amount of serious crimes for last year with a total of 918 serious crimes being reported.

More serious crimes were reported in Tobago last year than other time during the last five years.

There were 1,156 serious crimes reported in Tobago last year.

Last year there were 377 murders in the country, according to CAPA. An Express tally has put the year end toll at 383.

It was only the second time that the murder toll did not cross the 400 mark in the past five years.

In 2008 and 2009 the murder toll crossed the 500 mark with 547 and 507 murders.

In 2010, there were 473 murders and in 2011, the year of the three-month long State of Emergency (August 21 to December 5), there were 352 murders, according to CAPA.

Overall 2,256 murders were committed over the past five years.

There were fewer fraud offences and narcotic offences reported last year than other time during the last five years.

There were 188 road fatalities last year, according to CAPA.

The last two years were the first time the annual road death toll did not cross the 200 mark.

There were 181 road deaths reported in 2011.