An overall rise of 6% in serious crimes has been recorded at the end of August 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, police said today.
The total number of reports of serious crimes made between January 01 and August 31, 2013 was 2658 compared to 2503 for the same period last year. Some of the offences tracked are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
A total of 85 murders were recorded at the end of August this year in comparison to 82 murders for the same period last year, a 4% rise. The police statement said that of the 85 murders this year, 35 were of the disorderly type, 14 occurred during armed robberies, one was execution type, and 13 were domestic-related. The other 22 have not been categorized as yet.
At the end of August 2013 robbery under arms had increased by 3%, with 692 reports compared to 672 for the same period in 2012. The police statement said that the statistics indicate an increase of 10% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 7% drop in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
In relation to traffic, there has been an increase of 2 road fatalities at the end of August 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, with 67 fatalities from 64 accidents in 2013 ranged against 65 fatalities from 61 accidents during 2012. The period January 01 to August 31, 2013, saw reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage.
So far, pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 24 having died at the end of August 2013. In addition 11 motor cyclists, 10 pedal cyclists, 8 drivers of motor vehicles, 2 pillion riders and 12 passengers of motor vehicles also succumbed.
