The detection rate for Group 01 (Homicide offences) incidents reported in 2020, based on data extracted at the beginning of September 2021, was 82.1%. This was considerably higher than the detection rate for Group 01 (Homicide offences) incidents reported in 2019 when measured a year ago (65.5%). The updated detection rate for homicides reported in 2019, based on the latest available data, is 74.2%.

The proportion of Murder/ manslaughter/ infanticide incidents in 2020 which have been detected (81.6%) is similar to the proportion of incidents of Dangerous driving leading to death which have been detected (82.5%). This contrasts with figures for crimes reported in 2019 when incidents Murder/ manslaughter/ infanticide had a considerably lower detection rate.

The detection rate for incidents of Dangerous driving leading to death reported in 2019 rose from approximately three out of four incidents (76.5%) when measured in September 2020 to nine out of ten incidents (88.9%) when measured in September 2021. See Table 3.1

The detection rate for Group 02 (Sexual offences) incidents reported in 2020, based on data extracted at the beginning of September 2021, was 10.3%. This was marginally lower than the detection rate for Group 02 (Sexual offences) incidents reported in 2019 when measured a year ago (12.0%). The updated detection rate for sexual offences reported in 2019, based on the latest available data, has risen to just over one in five (20.2%), which reflects the increase in such incidents which have been detected between September 2020 and September 2021. See Table 3.1

Detection rates for crimes reported in 2020 increased across many crime types when compared to the initial detection rates for crimes reported in 2019 (as measured a year ago), for example in Group 03 (Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences) where 37.7% of 2020 crimes have been detected, an increase of 4.7 percentage points on the comparable figures from last year; in Group 06 (Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences) where 31% were detected, up 4.7 percentage points; in Group 07 (Burglary and related offences) where 22.4% have been detected, up 7.8 percentage points; and in Group 12 (Damage to property and to the environment) where 24.1% were detected, up by 3.7 percentage points.

Within Group 03, the detection rate for 2020 crimes classified as Assault causing harm, poisoning, at 48.1%, was highest, while the detection rate for incidents classified as Harassment and related offences (11.8%) was lowest. See Table 3.1

The detection rate for theft offences in 2020 was just over one in three recorded incidents (36.2%), which was marginally higher than the corresponding figure last year (32.8%). Within this category, almost two thirds (63.8%) of incidents classified as Theft from shop were detected, compared to almost a quarter (22.8%) of Theft of vehicle and related offences, and 14.6% of Theft from person incidents. See Table 3.1

The detection rate for recorded drug offences in 2020 (83.7%) was slightly lower than the corresponding rate in 2019 (87.9%) measured a year ago. Within this category, the detection rate for incidents classified as Possession of drugs for personal use (90.4%) in 2020 was considerably higher than for Possession of drugs for sale or supply (66.6%). See Table 3.1

Crime incident detection rates for a reference period tend to increase for a time, as more investigations are completed, before settling. Based on the latest available data for incidents reported in the two-year period 2019-20, the measured detection rate for Group 02 (Sexual offences) was lowest, at 5.7%, for the most recent reference quarter (Q4 2020), increased gradually for each quarter, and was highest, at 22.0%, in the first reference quarter (Q1 2019) of the series. See Table 3.2

This progressive increase in detection rate with the passing of time was also observed in Group 09 (Fraud and related offences) where the detection rate was lowest, at 14.3%, for the latest reference quarter (Q4 2020) and highest, at 26.6% in Q1 2019, and in Group 10 (Controlled drug offences) where the detection rate was lowest, at 75.9%, for the latest reference quarter (Q4 2020) compared to earlier periods. See Figure 3.1