Fraud cases reported to the police have more than doubled in three years, according to data tabled in Parliament.
A total of 626 reports were filed in Malta and Gozo last year, a 133 per cent increase compared to 2011 when the number was 269.
The rise in fraud was practically concentrated in Birkirkara where cases increased from 19 to 234 in the space of a year. The second highest number of cases (50) was reported in Valletta.
The information was provided by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia in reply to a parliamentary question made by Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi.
Apart from fraud, forgery increased by nearly half in three years, computer misuse by a third, incidents involving violence against public officials by more than a quarter, and reports of domestic violence by 21 per cent.
The rise in fraud was practically concentrated in Birkirkara
In the last three years, reports for damages rose 164 per cent – from 1,762 to 4,658. But prostitution has declined by almost two thirds with the number of cases reported last year falling to 48 from 130 in 2011. An analysis of the data for the last three years reveals the average number of thefts reported annually is 8,500, with St Julian’s topping the list followed by several other tourist areas.
Cospicua last year climbed into second place as a result of reports against the ship repair industry, where 582 reports were filed to claim damages in private property, says criminologist Saviour Formosa.
Asked for a possible explanation for a hike in fraud in Birkirkara, Dr Formosa said it would be premature to try to single out one particular factor from the information available.
Dr Formosa, a senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Malta, has also developed a website (www.crimemalta.com) which covers ongoing crime-related research and statistics in Malta.
“In terms of trends in crime, the reported offence total has been increasing since 2009 and the main categories remain theft, followed by damages, and bodily harm, which is at times overcome by domestic violence,” Dr Formosa said.