The official crime statistics released by the South African Police Service today for the April 2013 to March 2014 reporting period reveal a substantial increase in a number of categories of the most serious crime. There were 17 068 murders recorded by police, up from 16 259 the year before, an increase of 5% in absolute numbers and a 3.5% increase in the ratio per 100 000 of population. The total number of "robberies with aggravating circumstances" increase to 119 351, up from 105 888 the year before, a 12.7% increase. Within this sub-category number of robberies at residential premises increased from 17 950 to 19 284, a 7.4% increase, and at non-residential purposes from 16 377 to 18 615, a 13.7% increase.
The full list of crime categories and the changes year-on-year follows below:
Table: Crime statistics in South Africa in 2013/2014 compared to 2012/2013:
2012/2013 |
2013/2014 |
% change 2012/13 to 2013/14 --> |
2012/2013 |
2013/2014 |
% change 2012/13 to 2013/14 |
|
Crime Category --> |
Total numbers of crime reported |
Ratio of crimes to 100 000 population |
||||
CONTACT CRIMES (CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON) |
||||||
Murder --> |
16 259 |
17 068 |
5.0% |
31.1 --> |
32.2 |
3.5% |
Total Sexual Offences |
66 387 |
62 649 |
-5.6% |
127.0 |
118.2 |
-6.9% |
Attempted murder |
16 363 |
17 110 |
4.6% |
31.3 |
32.3 |
3.2% |
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm |
185 893 |
183 173 |
-1.5% |
355.6 |
345.7 |
-2.8% |
Common assault |
172 909 |
167 157 |
-3.3% |
330.8 |
315.5 |
-4.6% |
Robbery with aggravating circumstances |
105 888 |
119 351 |
12.7% |
202.6 |
225.3 |
11.2% |
Common robbery |
53 540 |
53 858 |
0.6% |
102.4 |
101.7 |
-0.7% |
CONTACT CRIMES |
617 239 |
620 366 |
0.5% |
1 180.8 |
1 170.9 |
-0.8% |
CONTACT RELATED CRIME |
||||||
Arson |
6 064 |
5 811 |
-4.2% |
11.6 |
11.0 |
-5.2% |
Malicious damage to property |
121 113 |
119 733 |
-1.1% |
231.7 |
226.0 |
-2.5% |
CONTACT RELATED CRIME |
127 177 |
125 544 |
-1.3% |
243.3 |
237.0 |
-2.6% |
PROPERTY RELATED CRIME |
||||||
Burglary at non-residential premises |
73 630 |
73 600 |
0.0% |
140.9 |
138.9 |
-1.4% |
Burglary at residential premises |
262 113 |
260 460 |
-0.6% |
501.4 |
491.6 |
-2.0% |
Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle |
58 370 |
56 870 |
-2.6% |
111.7 |
107.3 |
-3.9% |
Theft out of or from motor vehicle |
139 658 |
143 812 |
3.0% |
267.2 |
271.4 |
1.6% |
Stock-theft |
29 894 |
28 026 |
-6.2% |
57.2 |
52.9 |
-7.5% |
PROPERTY RELATED CRIME |
563 665 |
562 768 |
-0.2% |
1 078.3 |
1 062.2 |
-1.5% |
CRIME DETECTED AS A RESULT OF POLICE ACTION |
||||||
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition |
14 872 |
15 420 |
3.7% |
28.4 |
29.1 |
2.5% |
Drug-related crime |
206 825 |
260 732 |
26.1% |
395.6 |
492.1 |
24.4% |
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs |
71 065 |
69 757 |
-1.8% |
135.9 |
131.7 |
-3.1% |
CRIME DETECTED AS A RESULT OF POLICE ACTION |
292 762 |
345 909 |
18.2% |
560.0 |
652.9 |
16.6% |
OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES |
||||||
All theft not mentioned elsewhere |
362 816 |
368 664 |
1.6% |
694.1 |
695.8 |
0.2% |
Commercial crime |
91 569 |
79 109 |
-13.6% |
175.2 |
149.3 |
-14.8% |
Shoplifting |
71 309 |
70 516 |
-1.1% |
136.4 |
133.1 |
-2.4% |
OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES |
525 694 |
518 289 |
-1.4% |
1 005.6 |
978.2 |
-2.7% |
SUB CATEGORIES OF AGGRAVATED ROBBERY |
||||||
Carjacking |
9 990 |
11 221 |
12.3% |
|||
Truck hijacking |
943 |
991 |
5.1% |
|||
Robbery of cash in transit |
145 |
145 |
0.0% |
|||
Bank robbery |
7 |
21 |
200.0% |
|||
Robbery at residential premises |
17 950 |
19 284 |
7.4% |
|||
Robbery at non-residential premises |
16 377 |
18 615 |
13.7% |
|||
TRIO CRIMES |
44 317 |
49 120 |
10.8% |
84.8 |
92.7 |
9.4% |
17 SERIOUS CRIMES |
1 833 775 |
1 826 967 |
-0.4% |
3 507.9 |
3 448.3 |
-1.7% |
20 SERIOUS CRIMES |
2 126 537 |
2 172 876 |
2.2% |
4 068.0 |
4 101.2 |
0.8% |
Source: SAPS
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