November 2020 Crime Analysis Report

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The Belize Crime Observatory (BCO) has issued a crime analysis report for the period January to November 2020. This report focuses on the major crimes category as a whole but also focuses on murders, property crimes (robbery, burglary, and theft), and sexual violence. There are also data sets on autopsies and incarcerations.
Despite seeing fluctuations in the reported incidents of major crimes, there was an overall 30% decrease for the months of January to November 2020, when compared to the same period last year. During this time, there were 818 major crimes reported, a reduction of 352 from the 1,170 incidents which were reported for this period in 2019. Of the 818 major crimes reports, around 80% of those were crimes of robbery, burglary, or theft. Robberies and burglaries saw the greatest decline, from 235 to 145 and 644 to 441 incidents respectively, while rape observed the least significant decline, from 28 to 25 incidents. The overall decline in major crimes of 30% represents a marked improvement from the 8% decline recorded for January to November 2019. This decline, according to the BCO, was attributed to special measures to limit mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as targeted police interventions.
There was an increase in murders in November both when compared to November 2019 and October 2020. There was, however, a 21% decrease in murders from January to November 2020 when compared to January to November 2019, from 119 to 94. 83 of those victims were men while 11 were women. Given the current trend, the Belize Crime Observatory says that Belize’s murder rate is expected to fall this year to around 25 per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest rate recorded in Belize since 2013. In the districts of Stann Creek and Corozal, however, there were increases in the number of murder incidents and no change in the Toledo District.
Although sexual violence was on an upward trajectory during the period April to June 2020, there has been an overall decline since January 2020. Reports of sexual violence generally declined by 26% when compared to January to November 2019.
Property crimes saw a 32% decline nationally for the period January to November 2020. Over the past two months, there has been a general decline which followed a marked increase between June and September 2020. Since the onset of COVID-19, however, there has generally been a decline from 958 reported incidents in January to November 2019 to 650 in January to November 2020. Of those 650 incidents, 68% or 442 were burglaries, 22% or 143 were robberies, and 10% or 65 were incidents of theft.
A total of 35 autopsies were conducted by the National Forensic Science Service during November 2020. Of that, two for which the manner of death was determined, six accidental deaths including three road traffic fatalities and a drowning, 12 homicides, and 15 others from natural causes. There were none for suicides. The homicide victims were all males between the ages of 16 and 57 and the three road traffic fatalities were also all males. 12 homicides were recorded in the Belize District while the other four were in Corozal, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo. The Orange Walk District was the only district not to record a homicide for the month. In November 2019, 16% of the 38 autopsies were autopsies of homicides whereas in November 2020, that percent increased to 34%, representing 12 of the 35 autopsies.
For November 2020, 69 persons were incarcerated and this included 40 newly remanded persons and 29 newly convicted persons. From those remanded, five were put on remand for murder, eight for burglary related charges, and four for unlawful sexual intercourse. Of the 69, 59 were Belizeans while 10 are foreigners, eight from Central America and two elsewhere. The Central Americans were incarcerated for illegal entry. Since the onset of COVID-19, close to 300 persons have been incarcerated for violations of special containment measures including breaching the curfew, failure to wear a face mask, and not following social distance requirements.