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Crime trends cause increasing concern
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by PANORAMA reporter
The New Year is a time for celebrations, but for some it can be a time for crime. In fact, over the New Year period there were 50 arrests, crime reports etc. Theft, burglary, assault, threatening behaviour, insulting words...and more.
And the number of youngsters getting involved on the act is causing particular concern, such as the case of a 16-year old being arrested and charged over the stealing of over 48 boxes of cigarettes, after eagle-eyed police caught the juvenile on the alleged act at 5.45am the other day.
Another incident that has raised many eyebrows concerns the three separate incidents reported by police about the use of knives.
It would appear that bad habits elsewhere are fast spreading to Gibraltar, which increasingly make this once law-abiding place that more dangerous.
DISTURBING TRENDS
As the rising tide of local crime continues, there is one area which is clearly a root cause in these disturbing trends.Alcohol and the misuse of drugs cases continue to rise, and constantly appear amongst the main causes involved in the mounting numbers of police arrest, particularly at weekends.
In just 48 hours during a recent weekend last month as many as 71 persons were arrested for a myriad of offences.
High on the list of offences committed was ‘driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs’ here 10 people were arrested. Possession of a controlled drug clocked up another 11 persons detained or arrested by police. There were about 30 alcohol or drug related arrests from the total of 71.
Another important observation concerning these now repeated—crime ridden weekends is the high incidence of violence, which again appears to be getting more serious by the day - and it is strongly suspected that these cases are driven by drugs or alcohol or both. There were 7 violent related arrests the other weekend, the most serious was a person arrested for threatening to kill someone, also a robbery where two were arrested, another for affray and others for threatening behaviour, assault and obstructing police.
COURT WARRANTS
There were 28 arrests involving warrants to detain people; these cases and the warrants issue really give an accurate indication in the disrespectful way ‘The Rule of Law’ is evolvinglocally.
Our understanding is that there are enough outstanding court warrants for the police to execute, which would comfortably wallpaper the walls of the new court rooms currently being built by Government! How sad. Although this issue regarding the public not respecting orders of the court, is more serious than may be imagined. Defying or disobeying court rulings is considered an accurate indicator which way that society is heading.
During the whirlwind weekend of crime mentioned, there were 14 reports of dishonesty, this involved 11 reports of theft, 1 robbery and burglary, all recurring features of the community we live in.
There is no doubt that we have an increasing problem with crime and disorder, even though we are given another and completely contrasting story and perspective in official documents such as the recently published Police Report issued by the Police Authority, in which they appear to play down the current situation in a ‘Everything is Peach-Pie Approach’ to local crime and disorder, which helps no-one, is not a reflection of the reality of the situation and can be misleading to the public.
ON THE INCREASE
Just a few months back in October, we carried a similar article where we reported that on two consecutive weekends a total of 91 arrests were made by police. These later figures in just one weekend, clearly demonstrate that crime, dishonesty, violence and disorderliness is on the increase.
Do the pertinent authorities have their fingers on the pulse?
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