Criminal offences decline in Mauritius

Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The general crime level in Mauritius has gradually declined from 2008 to 2011, according to figures released on Thursday by the Statistics Office in Port-Louis.

Citing official police figures, the Office indicated that while overall offences decreased from 54,000 to 44,800, thefts went down from 20,100 to 11,760 cases.

''From 2010 to 2011, the number of reported offences went down for most types of offences ranging from thefts – from 14,220 to 11,760; intentional homicide from 51 to 45; drug offences from 3,950 to 3,720; simple assaults from 14,040 to 13,920 but ICT related offences and serious sexual offences have gone up,'' one official at the Statistics Office said.

He further indicated that in 2011, about 25,400 offences investigated by the police were not taken to Court - either due to insufficient evidence or because the police had not been able to identify the accused or the accused have escaped.

About 19,600 persons were arrested in the course of criminal investigation in 2011, down from 26, 900 in 2010, the Office said.
-0- PANA NA/SEG 16Aug2012