The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force recently released crime statistics for the last 2 years , 2008 and 2009. According to the statistics crime has increased yet again.
Gun related killings have occupied the spotlight in all crime-related discussions but the statistics reveal that the crime scourge is much wider than just murders.
There were 2 145 recorded criminal acts in 2009 compared to 2008’s total of 2 048. This marks yet another consecutive year of heightened criminal activity, as 1 852 crimes were recorded in 2007.
Virtually every category of crime including sexual offenses like rape , unlawful carnal knowledge and property offenses like burglary and drug offenses recorded an increase. In the case of property crime the increase was a whopping 20%. Drug and firearm offenses doubled.
People’s Action Movement Leader Lindsay Grant continues to express concern and outrage at the ever worsening crime statistics.
“The statistics, show that an ever increasing proportion of the population is being traumatized and feels insecure ,” said People’s Action Movement Leader Lindsay Grant.
“Even as too many try to fool themselves about crime being sequestered to just the gang members the reality is that crime is pervasive and touches all of society. The sad horror of Mildred and James Daniel shows that the worse can happen in the most unexpected circumstances. I am appealing once again to the government to sit down with all stakeholders , all NGO’s, all political parties and solicit not only ideas but a unified stance and committement to fighting crime. The People’s Action Movement presented a 16 point crime fighting plan some years ago and we have since presented an updated plan which is highlighted in our manifesto and we encourage the government to make use of the plan presented and implement the concepts and ideas within the plan that our party is certain will do much to improve our ever worsening crime situation,” Grant continued.
Grant said, “The crime situation in this country is simply outrageous and 16 homicides with only 1 arrest made in relation to any is totally unacceptable,”
Grant was speaking in reference to the detection rate of murders and crime in general according to the statistics.
The People’s Action Movement leader also bemoaned that donkeys and pigs seem to get more protection from crime than the citizens. This year so far there have been convictions for the sexual molestation of a donkey and a pig.
“The detection rates continue to be stubbornly low. Scores of murderers, rapists and other hardened criminals continue to roam free to stalk more victims. However a pig and a donkey gets their justice as for this year we have seen convictions for the sexual molestation of a donkey and a pig. But it seems our citizens are not so lucky,” Grant lamented.
Mr. Grant said his party is willing to sit down and meet with government on matters of national interest including crime .
Over the last weekend their has been another serious spate of crimes including the brutal beating and robbery of yet another British Couple in the Half Moon Bay area as well the robbery of a Carib Brewery truck and the shooting of two men in the Soho village area.
