Crime

Reported crimes in 1997 totalled 67 367, a decrease of 14.8 per cent
compared with 79 050 crimes recorded in 1996. The crime rate stood at
1 036 cases per 100 000 of the population, a decrease of 17.3 per cent,
compared with 1996. This figure was the lowest in the past 24 years.

Violent crimes, including murder, wounding, serious assault, rape,
indecent assault, kidnapping, blackmail, criminal intimidation, robbery and
arson, declined to 13 749 cases, compared with 15 191 in 1996. Robbery,
wounding and serious assault accounted for some 72.1 per cent of the
total number of violent crimes in 1997.

The situation regarding vehicle theft continued to improve. Overall, 2 184
motor vehicles were reported missing in 1997, a drop of 14.7 per cent
compared with 1996. The number of robberies involving the use of
firearms - both genuine and pistol-like objects - was 79, a decrease of 4.8
per cent compared with 1996.

In all, 34 593 crimes - or 51.4 per cent of the total - were detected, with
41 714 people arrested for various criminal offences. Of those arrested,
5 964 were juvenile offenders (aged between seven and 15 years) and
6 855 were young persons (16 to 20).

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