Cyprus crime rises slightly in 2006

The number of serious offences reported to the police (true cases) in 2006 was 7.917 compared to 7.212 in 2005, according to the Annual Report. “Criminal Statistics” 2006, published by the Statistical Service. Cyprus has a low crime rate by EU standards.
The report presents data on crime, based on information provided by the police, the courts and the prison. It also presents comparative data for the period 1976-2006.
The most salient developments during 2006 can be summarised as follows.
The offences against property constitute the largest group of offences, accounting for 63.8% of serious offences, followed by offences relating to forgery, coining and criminal impersonation with 13.5%.
The number of cases concerning drug offences increased by 6.9% compared to the previous year. The number of cases recorded in 2006 was 653 compared to 611 in 2005.
The number of adult offenders convicted of serious offences was 1,441, compared to 1,575 the year before.
Their median age was 27.0 years for males and 28.5 for females. Women represented only 7.6% of adult convicted offenders, while the convictions of foreigners constituted 39.2% of the total convictions for serious offences (37.7% of males and 57.3% of females).
The number of juvenile offenders who are involved in the commission of both serious and minor offences reached 231 in 2006 (of which 14 were girls) compared to 257 in 2005.
According to the judicial statistics, 107,997 persons appeared before the courts in 2006, compared to 95,724 in 2005.
Of these, 68,427 were convicted, compared to 59,889 the year before.
Regarding prison statistics, there were 1,336 admissions of convicted persons (1,244 males and 92 females) in 2006, compared to 1,188 in 2005.
In addition to the convicted prisoners. 1,095 accused persons (pending trial) were admitted into prison.
The Report can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Statistical Service. under the section Publications (Category: Annual Publications. Theme: Population and Social Conditions. Subtheme: Social Conditions).
The paper publication will later be available for sale at the Government Printing Office in Lefkosia at the price of EUR 10.00/CYP 5.85 per copy.