Statistics show slight increase in crime in Federation
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A comparative analysis of the crime statistics for the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis shows there has been a slight increase in reported criminal activity.
The statistics which were released by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s Press and Public Relations Office, show a comparison between the number of crimes reported and solved in St. Kitts, Nevis and collectively. It covers the months of January to November for 2006, 2007 and 2008, and it gives a breakdown of a number of major crimes reported during the same periods.
In 2008, the Federation recorded decreased incidences of breakings, robberies, woundings, malicious damage/arson, larceny and illegal firearm possession while increases were recorded in murders, drug-related offences, sexual offences and fraud.
In 2006, the number of breakings recorded during the months of January to November stood at 698. That figure decreased by 28 in 2007 and by a further 38 in 2008. Between 2006 and 2008, the number of incidents of larceny fell by 46, from 439 to 393.
During the same period, a 31.16 percent decrease in incidents of malicious damage/arson was recorded. The number stood at 215 in 2006 and, in 2008, 148 incidents were recorded.
Although there was a 50 percent increase in incidents of robbery between 2006 and 2007, a 20 percent decrease was recorded in 2008. The rate of wounding stood at 129 in 2006 and rose by 18 in 2007. A slight decrease, however, was recorded in 2008 which took the figure to 144.
After a 20 percent increase in the incidence of illegal firearm possession was recorded in 2007, a 20 percent decrease was recorded in 2008.
In 2006, the murder rate stood at 17 and decreased to 16 in 2007. In 2008, however, a 37.5 percent increase was recorded with the figure standing at 22 as at November’s end.
The rate of drug-related offences stood at 161 in 2006 with a sharp decrease to 84 in 2007. A significant 76.19 percent increase however was recorded in 2008. The figure stood then at 148.
Reported sexual offences in 2006 equaled 42 and rose to 47 in 2007 and 59 in 2008.
After a reduction in the incidence of fraud, a 225 percent increase was recorded in 2008. The figure stood then at 26.
In 2006, during the months of January to November, on the island of St. Kitts, 1611 reported acts of criminality were recorded, and in 2007 and 2008 during the same period, 1456 and 1412 reported acts of criminality were reported registering a 12.35 percent decrease over the two-year period. The decrease in crime is coupled with an increase in the rate of detection which stood at 28.7 percent in 2007 and 30.45 percent in 2008.
Nevis, however, registered an overall increase in reported crime over the same period. In 2006, the figure stood at 244 with a decrease by three during the following year. In 2008, a 32.78 percent increase was recorded taking the number to 320. After achieving a 50.62 percent detection rate in 2007, Nevis recorded a decrease to 46.87 in 2008.
For the months of January to November in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the Federation’s crime rate stood at 1855, 1697 and 1736 respectively while detection rates stood at 32.83, 31.82 and 33.48 respectively.
