In 2020, Malta registered the highest number of prisoners it has ever experienced in its recorded history with over 900 inmates being held at the Corradino Correctional Facility in November.
Last week, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, alongside Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa and Criminologist Prof Saviour Formosa, presented the CrimeMalta Annual Report for 2020 which showed that, for the fourth consecutive year, Malta has experienced a decrease in reports of criminal offences; 16% less than 2019.
A deeper look into this report also shows that on the last Friday of November 2020, Malta registered 908 residents in its prison which is 11.4% higher compared to the previous highest registered in 2018, making it the highest figure of inmates in Malta’s recorded history.
This means that the capacity threshold of the Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) of 600 inmates was exceeded by over 300 residents. The first time this threshold was surpassed was in September of 2012.
On the last Friday of 2020 (25 December), 868 residents were registered at the facility the majority of whom being males (811) with just 57 inmates who are females.
Notably, the Maltese component was that of 38% of all residents in CCF, whilst the foreign component equalled 62%. Residents hailed from 62 countries excluding Malta.
CCF is the only prison on the island. It holds services for both sexes, all categories of offences, all ages, national and international provenance, sentenced and remanded offenders, amongst other categories. Youths have been transferred to Mtaħleb.
The CrimeMalta report notes that the drastic decrease in tourism that the pandemic brought about had a notable effect on the 16% drop in crimes in Malta overall, but it also revealed the stark realities of local offence “and the picture is not a pleasant one.”
The report notes that the growing numbers of incoming tourists was causing a focus on crime that clashed in two different worlds; the residential component (half a million people) and the tourism component (around 3 million people).
In turn, the realities of Maltese offences were being obscured, but 2020 pulled down the veil caused by this phenomenon.
CrimeMalta explained that the foundations that comprise social structures known as PREFE (politics, religion, economy, family and education) have experienced rapid changes such that the impact of values and norms is becoming less tangible.
“Whilst the political or legal measures have evolved and security implementation has increased in the social arenas resulting in the reduction of offences such as theft from residences, damages, bodily harm and prostitution, the strongest pillar pertaining to the family or household has become increasingly fragile such that the occurrence of personal-security incidents has grown dramatically. This is reflected through domestic violence, irrespective of form or method, whether psychological or physical.”
In 2020, domestic violence increased by 24% (319 cases) from 2019. The majority of these cases (316 cases) related to psychological harm – a 46% increase over 2019 to 2020 – while the remaining cases are attributed to slight bodily harm and physical force and stalking.
“Domestic violence, threats and private violence, pornography increased not only in ratio terms but in actual cases, indicating a drastic increase in personal violence.”
CrimeMalta suggests that PREFE should be changed to PREFET in order to include Technology as a new foundational element as it posits scenarios where crime has migrated to the digital domains, both in commissioning and investigation.
Reported cases show more dangerous offences in private zones
With the main attractor for crime, tourism, rendered null due to the loss of economic activity and recreation and leisure activities crimes took an ominous turn with personal crime taking precedence, the report reads.
In light of this, CrimeMalta noted that in terms of total reported crime, Malta is a safer place. However, as total crimes decrease, those reported show an actual more dangerous place for victims since offences related to the private zones, as against the social areas, have relatively and realistically increased.
It added that, while the trend declined in tourist zones, like St Julian’s with a 4.5% decrease from 2019, is expected to continue as supervision and smarty measures are implemented, it is imperative that as tourism returns, entities are prepared for the eventual surge and its mitigation. “A dynamic society needs to focus further on this phenomenon and change accordingly, even in terms of educational campaigns that target both citizens and visitors.”
“One cannot continue to observe crime as the arena for uniformed officers but one where such are enhanced through social and publicity activity run by social entities to ensure knowledge on crime, rescue and support functions as well as personal safety and security increase. It is imperative that offences are viewed as a personal domain issue as against that pertaining to the police. The latter are tasked with securing social spaces, but the individual is tasked with securing their private spaces. This is to be enhanced through the implementation of measures emanating from the Crime Prevention Strategy.”
Floriana ranks highest in total number of offences in Malta
The report also includes various ‘league tables’ based off of the Relative Index of Spatial Crime (RISC) analysis carried out by Criminologist Formosa showing which towns suffer most from crime, or inversely are safest in Malta and Gozo by comparing them to the national rate of offences. The national rate is calculated as the observed offences, against those which should potentially occur in those areas under study. The RISC assessment ranks localities according to experienced crime rate of 5 times or higher than national rate, between 2 and 5 times higher, up to 2 times higher, lower than national rate or zero.
The first league table classifies localities according to grand total of offences experienced there. At a rate between 2 and 5 times the national rate, Floriana took pole position above Valletta, Mdina, Marsa, St Julian’s and Żebbuġ (Gozo).
With regards to the theft from residences, Msida, Tarxien, San Pawl il-Baħar, Ta’ Xbiex, Pieta and Bormla, registered a RISC assessment relative to 5 times the national rate of offences with the latter registering within the 2 to 5 times ranking.
Marsa took top spot, for the theft of and from vehicles category followed by Ħamrun, Gudja and Bormla which towns host between 2 and 5 times the national rate. The report noted that this can be attributed to the fact that these towns host parking and transport-related activities that attract offenders to high-volume and relatively less monitored opportunities.
With regards to domestic violence the report noted that a significant number of councils exhibit some form of domestic violence that is above the national rate, at 1-2 times the rate. “In effect all towns have incident reporting but may register lower than national rates.”
However, Munxar, Bormla, Floriana and Isla host between 2 and 5 the national rate while San Lawrenz registered zero offences, a phenomenon also found in rural and small areas where the changes in legislation may yet have an effect in terms of encouraging victims to report.
Despite its low ranking in the previous category, San Lawrenz ranked highest in the commercial activity-related category followed by Gudja, St Julian’s, Kirkop, Ta’ Xbiex and Pembroke, indicative of their proximity to the main economic centres.
More information on the report and RISC assessment can be found on the CrimeMalta website; http://www.crimemalta.com/