BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federation’s crime detection rate has fallen just below the internationally-accepted rate and, as such, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force will be implementing measures with hopes of boosting the rate of detection.
Released earlier this month, the statistics revealed that in 2009 a total of 2 195 crimes were reported and the police were able to solve 714, registering a 32.5 percent detection rate; just 0.5 percent shy of the internationally-accepted rate of detection.
The statistics also show that, in comparison with 2008, there was an escalation in the number of reported crimes and a decrease in the percentage of crime detection. In 2008 the crime rate stood at 2 048 with 696 or 33.98 percent of them being detected. There was however a 2.88 percent increase in the 2008 detection rate as compared with 2007’s.
More than 50 percent detection rates were recorded in a number of areas, such as woundings (perpetrated without the aid of a firearm), rape and unlawful carnal knowledge which had 73.55 percent, 68.75 percent and 82.61 percent respectively.
Additionally, all incidences of possession of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to supply, drug cultivation, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition were solved.
Conversely however, several areas of crime recorded acceptable to ridiculously low detection rates. Seven or 25.93 percent of the 27 recorded murders for 2009 were solved while seven or 33.33 percent of the 21 attempted murder incidents were solved. Just about 94 percent of the incidents of wounding (perpetrated with the aid of a firearm) remain unsolved.
Of the 19 ‘shooting with intent’ cases, Three or 15.79 percent of the 19 ‘shooting with intent’ were solved, 36 (7.09 percent) of the 508 recorded house breaking and larceny cases were solved and 17 (15.74 percent) of the 108 recorded robbery cases were detected.
The number of burglary cases stood at 119 in 2009 with a mere 3.36 percent or four incidences being solved, and of the 553 reported incidents of larceny, just about 82 percent remains unsolved.
Speaking exclusively with SKNVibes, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for Operations Joseph Richardson explained that he is fully aware that a major contributor to the low detection rate is people’s unwillingness and or fear of providing evidence in a court of law.
While not providing much detail, the ACP noted that the force would be “embarking on a more vigorous drive in terms of strengthening the public/police relationship” and would also be “lobbying for changes in the law specific to evidence”.
