Crime tally shows fall

By Athena Karsera

THE number of serious crimes reported to the police fell by 619 cases in 1997, compared to 1996, a decrease of 13.6 per cent.

According to the 1997 Ministry of Justice and Public Order report, which has just been released, the decrease is due to additional police crime prevention measures and intensive monitoring of the criminal element.

While serious crimes fell, other exceptions included felonies by minors, drug and moral crime, stealing and acts causing grievous bodily harm.

While 10 murder and manslaughter cases were reported in 1996, as in 1995, the number fell to seven in 1997. Attempted murder cases also dropped in 1997, with seven reported instances, as against double that number in the previous year.

Reported break-ins fell from 1,318 cases in 1996 to 1,080 in 1997. In 1997, according to the report, 75.13 per cent of serious crimes reported were solved.

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