Police statistics show crime on the rise for 2007-2008
As suspected, there was a dramatic increase in crime last year, in particular in reported cases of carnal knowledge. Murders went up and so did robberies, burglaries and firearm offences. And Belize City gets the dubious distinctionas the crime capital. Figures were released today by the police department that show a comparative review of crime statistics for the years of 2007 and 2008. In 2007 there were ninety-seven murders and in 2008 there were a hundred and three, which makes it a five point eight increase. When it comes to rape, the figures have remained constant at thirty-eight for both years. Robberies increased from five hundred and fourteen to five hundred and thirty-two. Burglaries also increased from one thousand two hundred and fifty-six to one thousand three hundred and three. Theft increased from one thousand two hundred and thirty-three to one thousand four hundred and thirteen cases. The most staggering figure has to do with carnal knowledge. Reported cases of carnal knowledge have shot up from sixty-six to ninety-eight, which is an alarming forty-eight point five percent increase. The police attribute this figure to increased awareness generated by NGOs.
The stats show an increase in firearms and ammunition offences. In 2007 there were one hundred and twenty-nine firearms removed from the streets and that figure increased to one hundred and ninety-four for 2008. Three thousand one hundred and forty-six rounds of ammunition were seized and that went up to four thousand three hundred and eighteen. The reported number of firearms stolen increased from ninety-three to one hundred and seven.
Murders were not the only cause of deaths; traffic fatalities also took lives. And we are happy to report that at least in this category there has been a reduction in the loss of lives. Sixty-four persons were killed in accidents and that figure has decreased to fifty-two. Other fatalities numbered at seventy-four and that has decreased to fifty-six.
The epicenter of crime is Belize City, where forty-five of the hundred and three murders occurred. That means forty-three point seven percent of all murders occurred in the Old Capitol. While there were no murders in Queen Square and Fort George, most murders occurred in Lake Independence and Port Loyola. The police department’s analysis further shows a consistency of murders on the South Side. In 2007 there were thirty two murders on the south side and that increased to thirty-eight in 2008. On the North Side there were seven murders for both 2007 and 2008. While some motives for murders were undetermined, most of the killings were gang related or the result of personal misunderstandings.
