28% rise in overall crime rate in September compared to the same period last year

The overall crime rate increased by 28 percent during the month of September when compared to the same period last year.

Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci confirms increases were also recorded for serious crime up by 6 percent, crimes against children up by 8 percent and the number of illicit drugs cases registered increased by 9 percent.

Crimes against women recorded a decrease of 3 percent. A/CP Raikaci is holding the post as Acting Commissioner Juki Fong Chew is away on an overseas engagement.

The top five prevalent offences during the month of September were theft (487) assault causing actual bodily harm (298), burglary and aggravated (193), unlawful possession of illicit drugs (140) and criminal intimidation (71).

A case of theft registered 56 counts whereby the accused withdrew cash of approximately $9,000 from the account of the 86-year-old victim.

Of the 223 crime cases against women, 84 percent were assault- related and 16 percent sexual offences.

40 percent of the cases were committed in the domestic setting where the perpetrator was a spouse or in a defacto or partner relationship.

Crimes against children recorded 117 cases where 90 of the victims were girls and 27 were boys.

Of the recorded cases, 66 percent were sexual offences, 29 percent were assault-related and 5 percent linked to other offences.

15 percent were domestic related involving parent-child relationship, uncle-niece/nephew and other relatives.

The increase in the crimes against children was mainly due to the rise in assault causing actual bodily harm cases (from 18 to 26 cases).