CRIME has decreased by 19 per cent since the beginning of January, according to Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Mr Tudravu said the overall crime rate for the reporting period recorded a significant reduction, with decreases also reflected across several key crime categories.
“Reductions were also reflected in serious crime by 14 per cent,” Mr Tudravu said.
He said crime against women also decreased by 11 per cent.
However, Mr Tudravu said crimes against children recorded a one per cent increase, which remained a concern for police.
He said 331 cases of crimes against children were recorded during the reporting period.
Of these, 46 per cent were sexual offences, 41 per cent were assault cases, while the remainder involved other offences.
“Twenty-eight per cent of the cases were committed in domestic settings by family and relatives,” Mr Tudravu said.
“The fact that our children cannot feel safe in their own homes is extremely worrying and warrants a more aggressive approach in addressing the root causes of such crimes.”
Mr Tudravu said illicit drug cases increased by 45 per cent, which reflected the aggressive approach taken through joint operations.
He said road fatalities did not meet the required 50 per cent reduction target, recording only a 31 per cent reduction.
Complaints against police also recorded a 35 per cent decrease.
Mr Tudravu attributed the reduction in most crime categories to strengthened community engagement and co-ordinated interagency responses to crime.
He said police would continue to build on those efforts in the next quarter.
