The latest crime statistics released for the second quarter of 2023 reveal a 4.8% increase in contact crimes, further highlighting the ongoing challenges related to crimes against individuals in the country.
Here’s a full breakdown of crime statistics for April to June 2023
The data, which covers a range of contact crimes, provides insights into the trends and patterns of criminal activity.
Murder Rates and Sexual Offences
The report indicates a marginal decrease of 3.1% in murder cases (6 228) during this quarter compared to the same period in the previous year (6 424).
Similarly, sexual offences saw a 2.0% reduction over the same time frame (11 616 down from 11 855), reflecting efforts to address such crimes. However, it’s essential to recognise that challenges persist in these categories.
Attempted Murder and Assault Statistics
In contrast to the decline in murder and sexual offences, attempted murder witnessed an increase of 7.0% (5 969 up from 5 576), showcasing an alarming upward trend.
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm rose 8.2% (37 491 up from 34 635), emphasising a concerning escalation in violent incidents causing severe harm.
Common Assault and Robbery Patterns
Common assault cases also saw an uptick of 7.5% (41 519 up from 38 627), raising concerns about interpersonal violence.
Similarly, common robbery showed a 7.9% increase (11 404 up from 10 565), reflecting a higher incidence of robberies involving less severe physical harm.
Aggravated Robbery and Trio Crime
Robberies with aggravating circumstances, though witnessing a modest 1.0% rise (35 579 up from 35 233), continue to pose a threat to public safety.
Additionally, trio crime, which includes carjacking, robbery at residential and non-residential premises, and truck hijacking, recorded an overall decrease of 5.2% (15 660 down from 16 517).
Sexual Offences Breakdown
Breaking down sexual offences, the report highlights a 2.8% decrease (9 252 down from 9 516) in reported rape cases.
However, the statistics also reveal a concerning increase of 22.6% (510 up from 416) in attempted sexual offences, raising questions about the safety of individuals against such crimes.
Insights into Robbery Categories
The data underscores varied trends within different robbery categories.
Carjacking witnessed a significant decline of 6.4% (5 488 down from 5 866), while robbery at residential premises and non-residential premises saw increases of 4.9% (5 631 up from 5 370) and a notable decrease of 14.0% (4 541 down from 5 281), respectively. Additionally, truck hijacking recorded a slight decrease of 1.8% (499 down from 508).
As crime statistics reveal both declines and increases across different categories, law enforcement agencies and policymakers face the ongoing challenge of safeguarding communities and ensuring public safety.