Reported crime drops sharply

Reported crime has gone down by 25 per cent in four years, according to data released in Parliament.

The number of crime reports dropped to 13,803 in 2008 from 18,461 in 2005, a steady drop of about 2,000 each year, according to information given by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

The village of Għasri was almost crime free last year when only five cases were reported to the police. The most peaceful Maltese village was Safi, with 30 crime reports. In contrast, there were 1,650 crime reports in bustling St Julians.

Meanwhile, the number of cases pending before the law courts fell by five per cent between last September and last March. Dr Mifsud Bonnici said cases were also being heard and decided in a shorter time.

Addressing 21 new lawyers and two legal procurators before presenting them with their warrants, the minister said the improved performance was the result of judges' greater efficiency and reforms introduced by the government over the past few years.

The minister said the reduction was achieved even though the number of new cases, civil and criminal, remained constant.

He said the bulk of cases had been pending for between one and three years compared to between six and seven years just a short time ago.