Monday, January 2, 2012

Crime went up in 2011 — police report



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A preliminary report by the police indicates there was a four per cent increase in reported crime in the first 10 months of 2011 compared to the same period the previous year. The yet-to-be-released report labelled "secret" says "the security situation in the country during the first ten months of 2011 was characterised by a significant increase in all categories of crime. The national crime trends increased by 2,194 cases or 4 per cent as compared to the same period in 2010".
According to the report, which is awaiting December 2011 statistics before it is launched, the country experienced increased cases of robbery, economic crimes, corruption, offences involving police, break-ins, vehicle theft, offences against morality (for example rape, indecent assault), and theft by servant.
However, there was a noted decrease in stock theft, trafficking in dangerous drugs and traffic offences. There were 2,635 reported cases of robbery in 2011 compared to 2,305 in 2010, indicating an increase of 330 cases. There were 2,709 reported cases of criminal damage reported in 2011 compared to 2,633 cases in 2010.
In 2011, police recorded 837 more cases of stealing with 10,713 incidents compared to 9,876 cases reported in 2010. Some 5,723 cases of burglary were reported in 2011 compared to 5,270 in 2010 — a nine per cent increase. Police recorded 2,054 homicide cases in 2011 compared to 1,800 in 2010 while 1,412 cases of vehicle and other thefts were recorded in 2011 compared to 1,124 in 2010.
Economic crimes increased by 13 per cent with 2,442 cases reported in 2011 compared to 2,169 cases reported in 2010. The report says the country experienced aggression from the al Qaeda linked Somalia-based al Shabaab militia who entered the country and abducted foreigners — tourists and aid workers from Lamu and Ifo refugee camp.
This led to a 14 per cent increase in reported crime recorded in North Eastern province. There was a 32 per cent increase in reported crime in Nairobi — attributed to reports made to the many police posts, stations and divisions established recently. The Railways section of the police recorded 55 per cent of crime is attributed to theft of scrap metal in abandoned yards.
The Kenya Airports Police Unit recorded a 21 per cent increase in reported crime, attributed to increased cargo theft and drug trafficking. Nyanza province recorded a seven per cent increase in reported crime, Central province recorded a four per cent increase, and Western province a two per cent increase.
Three provinces — Coast, Rift Valley and Eastern — recorded a two per cent decrease in reported crime. Police blame the increase in crime incidents around the country on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country, organised criminal gangs, high unemployment rate, high levels of poverty, sophisticated technology and drug and substance abuse among the youth.
Comparative monthly figures show that July had the highest increase in crime with 861 cases translating to 15 per cent cases while August recorded a 13 per cent increase with 723 cases reported. June recorded 630 cases translating into 11 per cent increase while there were 565 more cases reported in October. Eastern province reported the highest number of domestic violence cases with 300 followed by Nyanza with 228. Nairobi had 140 cases, Rift Valley 139, Western 83, Coast 74, North Eastern 58, and Central 47 cases out of the total 1,069 reported incidents.
Four hundred and forty nine mob injustice cases were reported countrywide during the 10 first months of 2011 with Nairobi having the highest number at 107 followed by Nyanza with 93 cases while Western province had 73 cases, Central 72 cases, Eastern 40 cases, Rift Valley 33 and Coast 31. North Eastern province did not have any reported case of mob injustice in 2011.

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