Crime stats: The good, the bad and the disappointing
Figures are taken from nine policing areas on the South Coast.
The 2018 /2019 crime statistics were released on Thursday last week and although they paint a grim picture overall, it appears that the South Coast hasn’t fared too badly with a drop in some categories.
There were 21 022 murders in the country during the period under review, an increase of 3.4 percent, from 20 336 in 2017/2018.
ALSO READ : South African violent crime and sexual offences stats paint a grim picture
KwaZulu-Natal saw an increase of 13, from 4 382 recorded in 2017 /2018 to 4 395 cases over the past year.
Bucking the trend, however, statistics taken from nine policing areas in the Ugu Cluster and which include Hibberdene, Southport, Port Shepstone, Paddock, Izingolweni, Harding, Gamalakhe, Margate and Port Edward indicate that six fewer murders were reported, a drop from 220 to 214.
Sexual offences
Sexual offences remain a problem. In KZN, the number of cases reported increased from 8 759 in 2017/2018 to 9 308 – a spike of some 549 cases.
Within the nine South Coast policing clusters, sexual offences increased from 421 in 2017/2018 to 501 in 2018/2019, an increase of 80 cases. Notably, Margate police station claimed a well-deserved top spot country-wide for sexual offences detected as a result of police action, with Port Shepstone a close second.
Rape
Worryingly, the statistics revealed that in the South Coast cluster, 64 more rape cases had been reported in 2018/2019, up from 337 in 2017/2018 to 401.
Burglary at residential premises
This category showed a pleasing decrease compared to 2017/2018 – 3 319 cases were reported compared to 3 126 reported for 2018/2019.
Last year drug related crime was a problem in the Ugu Cluster, but this year police have done an excellent job in reducing drug-related crimes.
Cases of driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs however remain high in most policing areas.
PORT SHEPSTONE POLICE STATION
Murder: 2018 = 49; 2019 = 48
Sexual offences: 2018 =75; 2019 = 97
Attempted murder: 2018 = 32; 2019 = 30
Rape: 2018 = 57; 2019 = 78
Carjacking: 2018 = 7; 2019 = 5
Burglary at residential premises: 2018 = 602; 2019 = 588
Drug-related crime: 2018 = 605; 2019 = 406
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 2018 = 283; 2019 = 301
MARGATE POLICE STATION
Murder: 2018 =39; 2019 = 33
Sexual offences: 2018 = 78; 2019 = 65
Attempted murder: 2018 = 14; 2019 = 23
Rape: 2018 = 53; 2019 = 49
Carjacking: 2018 = 4; 2019 = 2
Burglary at residential premises: 2018 = 1101; 2019 = 828
Drug-related crime: 2018 = 850; 2019 = 263
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 2018 = 132; 2019 = 196
GAMALAKHE POLICE STATION
Murder: 2018 = 12; 2019 =15
Sexual offences: 2018 = 21; 2019 = 37
Attempted murder: 2018 = 8; 2019 7
Rape: 2018 = 19; 2019 = 28
Carjacking: 2018 = 1; 2019 = 0
Burglary at residential premises: 2018 = 269; 2019 = 270
Drug-related crime: 2018 = 346; 2019 = 222
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 2018 = 14; 2019 = 22.
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