16% decrease in criminality in 2020, compared to 2019 – Minister

• Money laundering, domestic violence cases on the rise

For the fourth consecutive year, Malta has seen a decrease in reports of criminal offences. Criminality in Malta decreased by 16% in 2020 when compared to the previous year, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri announced on Saturday.

Minister Camilleri, Criminologist Professor Saviour Formosa, and Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa, all said that 2020 was a particular year due to the coronavirus pandemic, thus this needs to be taken into consideration.

The Crime Malta report is a study conducted annually to analyse the crimes that occur in Malta and Gozo. It is an important study as it reassures the public and makes them understand that they live in a safe country.

Camilleri explained that the decrease in criminality goes to show that the prevention strategy being adopted by the Maltese authorities is bearing fruit.

He remarked that the police force is working to get more police out in the streets, rather than sitting behind benches, with the aim of preventing crime before it is even committed.

Several localities are benefiting from the community policing project, and “we are investing in more training and resources for the police force in order to improve and increase the number of localities that will benefit from this service in 2021.”

“At the same time, it must be said that 2020 was a particular year because the opportunity of crime may have decreased due to the restrictive measures implemented due to Covid-19, such as the closure of the airport and establishments, among others”, Camilleri said.

He noted that there may have been a movement of certain crimes from traditional to other spaces, such as technology.

While the 16% decrease may be part of an extraordinary year, criminologist Formosa shows very clearly that in general Malta is becoming safer.

In addition, Minister Camilleri explained that there are areas where recorded crimes have increased not only because they have been more frequent, but also because the authorities are becoming more effective. This can be seen from crimes related to money laundering or also domestic violence as more awareness is being raised.

“Despite the decrease in criminality, we need to take into consideration the victims related to such crimes and ensure that they are supported. In the coming weeks we will be announcing unprecedented resources and initiatives to strengthen this sector.”

Criminologist Formosa presented figures seen in 2020, which included 13,087 reported offenses to the police. He noted that this is a decrease of 2,502 when compared to the previous year – 2019. In 2016, the number of criminal reports in Malta stood at 17,000.

When compared to 2019, the decrease in criminal offenses include theft (31%), damages (19%), bodily harm (16%), sexual offenses (14%) and fraud (1%).

Crimes which have increased include immigration, prostitution, money laundering, computer misuse (44%), drug cases (6%), domestic violence (24%) and public threats and violence (20%).

With regards to domestic violence, primarily related to psychological harm, this continues to increase by 24% as more victims feel that they have the opportunity to seek help.

He said that in “Malta we are seeing a trend-line decrease as year after year criminality is decreasing. The Coronavirus pandemic made us grasp a better understanding of the crimes that occur by citizens living in Malta and Gozo only, as due to the restrictive measures, we did not have many tourists.”

Formosa highlighted that it is crucial for this country to be prepared for when tourists come back to Malta in order to ensure that criminality does not increase.

Since 2016 Malta has seen a decrease of 24% in criminality, and we now have 25.4 crimes per thousand people living in Malta.

Formosa added that “social areas, which were previously dominated by crime in public areas, are becoming safer.”

The Malta Police has come out strong and has been there for society both in terms of strategic preparation and with the implementation of the Covid-19 measures, that have made the country safer in a period where it was closed.

“This impact was not incidental as the police and the community have intervened effectively through the community policing project, interventions in certain localities and a prevention strategy”, he said.

The Crime Malta Annual Report also mentions the impact of measures such as the transformation strategy, the implementation of GRECO and Moneyval. All measures lead to more results, and so will then increase the crime rate in certain areas due to the success of the police.

Police commissioner Gafa stated that he wants the police force to be professional and trusted by the public.

“We want to work closely with the outside community through the community policing strategy in order to eradicate crimes from their root causes”, he said.

Up to now, community policing has been implemented in around 13 localities in Malta. This will continue to increase in 2021.

The last year was very particular due to the pandemic as it has resulted in a drastic decrease.

“I do not want criminality in Malta to increase”, Gafa remarked.

With regards to domestic violence, Gafa said that raising awareness has been very effective as many victims seem to feel that they can ask for help. However, regardless of the mitigation and support provided, one can never know what happens in someone’s home, making it very difficult to reduce.