Carnal knowledge cases more than double

The Police Department today issued comparative statistics for January to May 2013, and according to the data, major crimes, reported at 1,016 cases to date, have dropped by an estimated 13%. Murders were down by 15%, from 60 incidences for January to May 2012 to 51 cases for January to May 2013.

Today, Minister of National Security John Saldivar presented a certificate of appreciation to Senior Superintendent of Police Joseph Myvette, who heads the Northern Zone and is also the Officer Commanding the Orange Walk Formation, since that zone showed the greatest crime reduction for the month of May. In addition to receiving a certificate of appreciation, Myvette was also presented with a cheque for $1,000.

Whereas the Northern Zone, overall, showed a marked reduction in major crimes, the district of Orange Walk, which is included in the zone along with Corozal, showed an overall increase, primarily due to a major escalation in burglaries.

The Eastern, Western, and Northern zones all showed a reduction in major crimes, but the Northern Zone led with a 53% reduction over May 2012 and 45% over April 2013.

A statement from the Ministry of National Security noted that for the second consecutive month, the Northern Zone had distinguished itself as having registered the greatest reduction in major crimes, as confirmed by the comparative statistics for the month of May.

The Southern Zone is the only one of four zones that saw an increase in major crimes. Particularly, the increases were in the incidences of burglaries, robberies and thefts.

Belize City, which has demonstrated a persistent problem with violent crimes, registered 7 murders for the month of May, compared with 6 for April. There were 10 shooting incidents reported for the month versus 6 last month (April) and 22 last May.

Meanwhile, carnal knowledge cases more than doubled for the period January to May 2013, when compared with the same time last year. For the first five months of 2013, 39 cases were reported versus 17 cases for the first five months of 2012.