A 25 per cent decline in crime was registered in the Sultanate during 2016 against the figure for 2015, according to official data.

This is also the lowest level recorded in the last three years (2014-2016). 

The number of perpetrators decreased by 22.8 per cent to reach 20,577, compared with 26,655 in 2015, according to the statistical data bulletin on crimes in the Sultanate in 2016 issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Data showed that the percentage of foreign offenders among the total number of offenders was 50 per cent. Three crimes are committed in the Sultanate every two hours and for every thousand of the population. There are five offenders among every thousand, according to the NCSI data.

More than half of the crimes were recorded in three governorates: Muscat, North Al Batinah and Dhofar, while the least crime was recorded in the Governorate of Musandam at a rate of 1.5 per cent. The Governorate of Al Wusta recorded the lowest percentage of perpetrators at 1.5 per cent of the total population.

Violation of regulations and laws formed the highest percentage of offenders at 22.8 per cent. A large percentage of violation was entering the country illegally (69 per cent), violation of the law of residence of foreigners and the violation of the Labour Law was committed by 29.8 per cent of the offenders under this category. The other crimes in this classification included violation of fishing laws and the Omani passport and personal card.

The percentage of perpetrators of crimes against individuals amounted to 21.6 per cent. This category of offences included abuse (38.5 per cent), insulting dignity (26.7 per cent), violating the sanctity of housing (13.8 per cent), quarrel (6.7 per cent), threat and intimidation (5.6 per cent), and 5 per cent. Other crimes committed under this category were pegged at 3.6 per cent.

Perpetrators of financial offences constituted 20.3 per cent of the total number of offenders. This includes theft and attempted theft, committed by 59.4 per cent of the offenders, abuse of the trust (17.4 per cent), fraud (10.9 per cent), damage (10.1 per cent) and intentionally setting fire to property (1.7 per cent).

Crimes of money laundering and fire by negligence were committed by 0.4 per cent of the perpetrators in this category.

The percentage of offenders in the crimes related to dealing with drugs amounted to 17.4 per cent of the total number of offenders, while the percentage of crimes against the public administration and public trust was 4.6 per cent.

The other crimes in the category included forgery (35.2 per cent), insulting employees (14.7 per cent), misuse of job (13.4 per cent), promotion of counterfeit currency (5.2 per cent), and other impersonation of the employee, fulfilling the right and falsifying identity, providing false information, bribery, embezzlement, perjury, forgery and counterfeiting (5.1 per cent each).

The perpetrators of the crimes related to drinking and alcohol accounted for 3.6 per cent of the total culprits. This category included the crime of drinking committed by 66.3 per cent and the smuggling, trade and manufacture of alcohol by committed by 33.7 per cent. -ONA

The percentage of crimes under sexual offences amounted to 0.9 per cent of the total number of offenders. This included prostitution (36.3 per cent of the offenders in this category), inappropriate touching of the opposite sex and sexual comments (33.4 per cent) and adultery (14.8 per cent). Other crimes under the category were gambling (5.6 per cent), incitement to immorality and homosexuality (9 per cent) and crimes against public display and morality (0.9 per cent).

The lowest percentage of offenders was found in the category of violating the Weapons and Ammunition Act at 0.7 per cent of the total number of offenders, while the perpetrators of other crimes accounted for 6.1 per cent.

According to the age group of offenders, juveniles (nine to 17 years) accounted for only 3.7 per cent of the perpetrators, mostly in financial crimes, accounting for 49.3 per cent of all juvenile offenders in 2016.

About 41.2 per cent of the total offenders were found to be in the age group of 18 to 29 years old, making it the largest percentage among adults. The most common crime among this group was the violation of foreigners’ residence law at 24.2 per cent.

Most of the perpetrators were male, accounting for 94 per cent of the Omani culprits and 87 per cent of the foreign offenders, the NCSI reported.

Source: Timesofoman