The annual academic report known as Crimemalta Observatory, confirmed in its annual publication for 2024 that Malta remained a safe and stable country, with a crime rate of 30 crimes per thousand people living in the country. This reflects a decrease compared to the year 2023 and a substantial decrease compared to the 46 reported cases per thousand people that Malta experienced in 2004.
This also builds on the excellent result given to Malta in an international report, including those that placed order and security in our country in the top ten in the year 2023, out of 142 countries in the global Rule of Law index. An index of the World Justice Project Global Rule of Law Index that includes member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and North America.
According to estimates made on the rates of 2004 and 2014, the rate of criminal reports this year was expected to exceed 20,000 and was even expected to reach 25,000 reports. Instead, the reports during last year were much lower than that. In fact, the same report also shows that there was a decrease in the crime rate when comparing 2024 with the previous year. As in 2024, 16,662 cases were reported, that is, a decrease of 1% over 2023.
These lower numbers were recorded even though this report is introducing for the first time new categories of reports which are environmental crimes, where 174 cases were registered. Crimes of cruelty against animals have also started to be registered where last year 20 cases were registered.
Another positive result is that the crime rate in Gozo has decreased by 23%, compared to the previous year, while the lowest number of thefts in the last 20 years has been recorded. This is half of what was recorded in 2006.
The experts who worked on the report claim that while there are crimes that have continued to register increases due to a more professional service as well as due to an increase in awareness, such as domestic violence, in other cases the reports of criminal offences have decreased due to the effectiveness of prevention work. The report also indicates the movement towards crime that is being committed “on the inside” where today this accounts for 34% of all criminal offences. Among others here we find fraud, money laundering and domestic violence. The report notes that until 2004, 96% of crimes were linked to an environment outside the home or outside properties such as offices, where the police and their effectiveness could have a more direct impact. However, with this change today it is important to focus on education and information, because the risks have increased where the victim is drawn towards the crime itself.
Commenting on these results, the Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri, said that the strengthening of the country’s security in recent years is a fact that no one can dispute. Research and results and even international reports, such as the Rule of Law Index, say that our country’s security is strong. He said that this does not come by chance, but is a result above all of the work carried out by the Disciplined Bodies, which work the Government is continuing to invest in not only with a relentless investment in the conditions of workers, but also in the tools they work with. An investment that Minister Camilleri explained, is being paid for by Maltese and Gozitan families, as this report indicates, with the crime rate decreasing again. This does not mean that our country does not have challenges, but our country has succeeded not only in reducing the crime rate, but also in keeping it low. He concluded that the Government will not be resting on these positive results, but will instead continue to build on them for the good of all the people.
