Geneva GE: decline that has been going on for several years now
The year 2021 confirms the decline that has been going on for several years now.
The number of criminal offenses under the Swiss Criminal Code has fallen by 42% since 2012. This reduction applies in particular to crimes against property such as burglaries (-65%), pickpocketing (-73%) and snatching (-80%).
Compared to 2020, crimes against life and limb also decreased in 2021 (-12%). The clearance rate for these crimes is 89.1%. In this category, the number of accused minors increased by 20 units.
There is a slight increase in crimes against sexual integrity compared to the previous year, i.e. 2% more crimes (578 in 2021 vs. 565 in 2020). In this category of crimes, the majority are sexual coercion (114 cases) and the result of pornography (111 cases). The clear-up rate for crimes against sexual integrity is 87.5%, and here too there was an increase of 20 units in the number of minors accused of crimes against life and limb.
Cases of domestic violence are down (-10%): 1881 cases in 2020 versus 1698 cases in 2021.
Cybercrime: 45% increase between 2020 and 2021 The sharp increase in cybercrime, which was already foreseeable, is particularly worrying. “This area deserves our full attention at the moment,” said Mauro Poggia, Councilor of State and responsible for the Department of Security, Population and Health. “Already at the heart of our canton’s common criminal policy, the area has been strengthened and Geneva’s positioning made more precise. Given the proliferation and complexity of this new form of crime, it was only natural that it should now be included in the larger police agenda. Geneva has been the cyber competence center (CCC) for western Switzerland since 2019. In this context, the Cybercrime Brigade (BCI) offers highly specialized services at an intercantonal level, with the aim of pooling resources.” the online information platform for serial crime. In 2021, the consideration of cyber phenomena will be further enhanced with the creation of the Cyber Investigations Brigade (BCE). The structures are now in place and it will be a question of refining and improving the processes between these different units in order to better coordinate the tasks in this area. The very large proportion of cyber crimes relates to cyber economic crime (93.1%). This is followed by a 4.1% share of cyber sex crimes, followed by 2.8% of cyber slander and unfair practices. In the cyber economy, most crimes are committed in connection with identity misuse (e.g. creating false customer accounts). A second place is followed by fraud with items paid for but not delivered or vice versa with items delivered but not paid for. In the area of cyber-sex crimes, the 99 cases involving prohibited pornography account for almost all of the 105 cases recorded. Conclusions Between 2012 and 2021, violations of the penal code fell sharply. Property crimes are also evidence of a decline, as are crimes against life and limb. Crimes against sexual integrity are increasing (+2%), as is the number of minors accused of crimes in the latter two categories.
The cyber phenomenon goes far beyond the cantonal borders. As cybercrime WILL increase by 45% between 2020 and 2021, with the vast majority being frauds, it WILL be a matter of improving the coordination of counter structures and intensifying and at the same time refining prevention. Indeed, between 2019 and 2021, several prevention campaigns have been carried out, but they have not had the desired effect, which is why this aspect needs to be improved. The police activity report for 2021 and the police crime statistics (PKS) at cantonal and municipal level are available online.
“The decline in all criminal code offenses is of interest and the police and their partners must step up their coordinated actions. More worrying are the phenomena related to cybercrime, especially as we know that our view of actual volume varies. In this area, prevention and the strengthening of intercantonal and international cooperation are essential,” adds Colonel Monica Bonfanti, Commander of the Police.
Source: Kapo Geneva
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