Federation’s detection rate continues to decline
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~ BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ALMOST 70 percent of reported crime committed in the Federation in 2007 remains unsolved. This is according to statistics released by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force late last week.
An analysis of the figures reveals that of the 1852 reported crime 576 were solved, registering a 31.10 percent detection rate; thus the remaining 68.90 percent remains unsolved.
Further scrutiny of the figures shows that since 2004 St. Christopher and Nevis has consistently registered declining detection rates.
In 2003 a 34.08 detection rate was achieved and in 2004 a 33.15 detection rate was recorded while in 2005, 2006 and 2007, detection rates of 32.92 percent, 32.47 percent and 31.10 percent respectively, were recorded. Over the same period, the overall detection rate has declined by 2.98 percent.
It can also be noted that between 2003 and 2007 an average detection rate of 32.744 was achieved.
Relative to St. Kitts, for the five year period, detection rates of 31.04 percent, 30.91 percent, 30.07 percent, 29.78 percent and 28.51 percent were achieved, registering an average of 30.06 percent.
Nevis, although registering figures a bit more easy on the eyes than St. Kitts’, has recorded the worst detection rate in the five year period. In 2003, the detection rate stood at 53.82 percent, 46.25 percent in 2004, 48.11 percent in 2005, 50.00 percent in 2006 and 45.42 percent in 2007. The average detection rate for the said period is 48.72 percent.
For St. Kitts, less than 50 percent detection rates were recorded in five main categories while less than 50 percent detection rates achieved in five others.
Just about 15.22 percent of “other offences against property” were detected, 5.82 percent of “breakings” were detected, 19.39 percent of “larcenies” have been solved, 20.18 percent of “robberies” were detected and 26.90 percent of offences of “malicious damage” were detected.
Almost 72 percent of “offences against the person” were detected, 85.42 percent of “offences against morality” were solved, 100 percent of “offences against lawful authority” and “firearm and drug” related offences were detected, and 79.84 percent of “other” crimes were detected.
Nevis recorded less than 50 percent detection rates in “other offences against property” which saw 29.19 percent being solved; “breakings” which saw 19.04 percent being solved; “larcenies” which saw 39.13 percent being solved and “robberies” which saw 40 percent being detected.
However, seven categories of criminal acts registered detection rates in excess of 50 percent. The categories are: “offences against the person” for which a 70.83 percent detection rate was achieved; “woundings” for which a 69.23 percent detection was attained; “malicious damage” which returned a 54.55 percent detection; and “other” crimes, 78.26 percent, of which were solved. One hundred percent detection rates were realised for the categories of “offences against morality” and “offences against lawful authority”.
