BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CRIME in St. Kitts-Nevis increased by 4.7 percent last year, according to information released by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force on Friday, June 18.
There were 2 145 recorded criminal acts in 2009 compared to 2008’s total of 2 048. This marks the second consecutive year of heightened criminal activity, as 1 852 crimes were recorded in 2007.
The last time police managed to reduce crime was from 2006 to 2007, when there was an almost 10 percent decline (2 035 to 1 852).
Many of the major crime categories experienced increases over the 2008 to 2009 period with the exception of acts of wounding, which dipped by three – from 142 to 139.
The number of reported murders continued to rise, going from 23 to 27; a 17 percent increase. The Federation last recorded a decrease in murders during 2006 to 2007, when the figure dropped by one - from 17 to 16.
Incidences of rape increased from 13 to 16, as did those of unlawful carnal knowledge (19 to 23). Acts of larceny rose by 16 percent, from 458 to 553, while burglaries jumped by 56 percent (76 to 119) and break-ins and robberies climbed from 718 to 819, an increase of 14 percent.
Drug and firearm cases more than doubled in 2009, rising from 110 to 295, while incidences of malicious damage/arson grew by 24 percent over the 2008 total (155 to 193).
Overall, offences against property was once again the largest crime category, accounting for 75 percent of all criminal activity. Its total of 1 611 represented an almost 20 percent hike over the 1 344 acts recorded in the previous year.
Offences against lawful authority earned the second biggest slice with 295 recorded acts, more than twice the total of its 2008 number, while offences against the person increased by 28 percent from 179 to 229.
Offences against morality recorded a nine percent increase (55 to 60).
Speaking at a press conference shortly before the release of the statistics, Commissioner of Police Austin Williams said the force was committed to its August 2009 strategic action plan on crime detection and reduction.
Despite constant challenges faced by law enforcement, Williams said the High Command was confident in the present approach of community policing and high police visibility.
