BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PAULINA HENDRICKSON, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) highlighted the statistics set to be addressed at the sitting of the next Criminal Assizes, and noted that violent crime is at an all time high.
She said that her office's analysis of cases that are currently listed in the Assizes show statistics that indicate that the violent crimes are indeed high.
"Our analysis of the cases currently listed in the St. Kitts Assizes yields the following statistics. Of the 33 outstanding matters, indictments have been filed for one postal office offence, one kidnapping, one abduction, two property invasions, five gun-related crimes which account for 15 percent of the matters listed, six murders that account for 18 percent, seven sexual offences including four rapes which account for 21 percent and ten other crimes involving violence which account for 30 percent of the listed cases," she explained.
She also listed the statistics for Nevis.
"Statistics for Nevis indicates that indictments presently before the Court are: one for murder and four for sexual offences."
She said that "with those statistics, it cannot be ignored that the existence of violent crimes is at an all time high in the Federation, particularly those involving the use of firearms".
DPP Hendrickson also gave details of the cases scheduled for the sitting of the next Criminal Assizes.
"There are sixteen cases traversed and seventeen new cases are listed for arraignment next week. In Nevis there are five cases traversed to the November Assizes. To date, we have no indication as to how many new matters will be listed for arraignment during that time."
Hendrickson said that her office hopes to continue to dispose of the cases in a timely and efficient manner and further reduce the number of traversed cases.
She also stated that the reduction in the indictment of property invaders is not a true reflection of the statistics in relation to the number of reported break-ins, noting that these offences remain at an all time high.
She, however, commended the Commissioner of Police and members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force for the changes that were implemented which, she said, have contributed to the reduction in crime and an increased detection rate noting "Numbers do not lie".
The DPP made these remarks while addressing members of the legal fraternity at the opening of the new law term at the High Court in Basseterre on Tuesday (Sept. 18). The sitting of the next Criminal Assizes is set to begin next Tuesday (Sept. 25).
