Violent crime up, robberies down: Govt

SINCE 2001 violent crimes have increased “drastically”, while only a slight rise in economic crime was recorded, according to official statistics.

Speaking during yesterday’s National Assembly debate on the prevailing crime rate, Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama gave an overview of the situation. “Deviation of normal human behaviour, especially among adult men with regard to economic crimes and excessive use of alcohol, public intoxication and drugs, contribute to the violent crimes,” said Tsheehama.Media coverage on crime created an emotional impact among the public that could negatively influence public perception and a total loss of confidence in Government organs like the Police or the judicial system, the Minister of Safety and Security added.”Poverty, a weak economy, unemployment, abuse of alcohol and habitual criminal behaviour are contributing factors for the significant increase of crime in any society,” Tsheehama outlined.From 2001 to 2002, criminal actions increased by 3,74 per cent and in 2003 by 2,7 per cent.However, Tsheehama said that crime in Namibia decreased by 0,74 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004.The bad news, however, was that “89 927 criminal cases were brought forward from 2004 to 2005, while 85 484 (new) cases were registered.These cases together total 175 311 cases that had to be investigated.”This does not include those cases that were returned from the courts for further investigation,” Tsheehama added.Of the 175 311 cases investigated last year, 73 375 cases were finalised.The clearance rate of crime – the percentage of crimes that were solved – came to 44,6 per cent in 2001, 53 per cent in 2002, 48 per cent in 2003, 47,4 per cent in 2004 and down to 41,9 per cent in 2005.”The [number of] accumulated cases are alarming and must be addressed soon to prevent devastating consequences,” the Minister urged.In 2005, the Police arrested 35 336 people – 84,6 per cent of them men.Further statistics the Minister of Safety and Security gave for 2005 were 16 756 theft cases, 10 597 assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm cases, 9 125 common assault cases and 6 727 housebreaking and theft cases.Suicides increased by 16 per cent in 2005.Robberies with firearms, however, decreased by 19 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004, but robberies with knives and stones as weapons went up by 18 per cent in the same year.Murder cases where firearms were used decreased by 32,7 per cent in 2005.Rape cases increased by 3,3 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004.”Deviation of normal human behaviour, especially among adult men with regard to economic crimes and excessive use of alcohol, public intoxication and drugs, contribute to the violent crimes,” said Tsheehama.Media coverage on crime created an emotional impact among the public that could negatively influence public perception and a total loss of confidence in Government organs like the Police or the judicial system, the Minister of Safety and Security added.”Poverty, a weak economy, unemployment, abuse of alcohol and habitual criminal behaviour are contributing factors for the significant increase of crime in any society,” Tsheehama outlined.From 2001 to 2002, criminal actions increased by 3,74 per cent and in 2003 by 2,7 per cent.However, Tsheehama said that crime in Namibia decreased by 0,74 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004.The bad news, however, was that “89 927 criminal cases were brought forward from 2004 to 2005, while 85 484 (new) cases were registered.These cases together total 175 311 cases that had to be investigated.”This does not include those cases that were returned from the courts for further investigation,” Tsheehama added.Of the 175 311 cases investigated last year, 73 375 cases were finalised.The clearance rate of crime – the percentage of crimes that were solved – came to 44,6 per cent in 2001, 53 per cent in 2002, 48 per cent in 2003, 47,4 per cent in 2004 and down to 41,9 per cent in 2005.”The [number of] accumulated cases are alarming and must be addressed soon to prevent devastating consequences,” the Minister urged.In 2005, the Police arrested 35 336 people – 84,6 per cent of them men.Further statistics the Minister of Safety and Security gave for 2005 were 16 756 theft cases, 10 597 assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm cases, 9 125 common assault cases and 6 727 housebreaking and theft cases.Suicides increased by 16 per cent in 2005.Robberies with firearms, however, decreased by 19 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004, but robberies with knives and stones as weapons went up by 18 per cent in the same year.Murder cases where firearms were used decreased by 32,7 per cent in 2005.Rape cases increased by 3,3 per cent in 2005 compared to 2004.