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For most crimes, a detection means that a suspected offender is issued with a charge or summons and faces prosecution in the Courts.
The proportion of crime incidents reported in years 2014 to 2020, which have a valid charge or summons linked to the incident, is shown in Table 5.1. This time series is provided, even though it is not provided for detections more broadly, on the basis that the way in which charges and summons are recorded did not change in 2018, as other detection indicators did.
As with detections, the longer the gap between the measurement being taken and the end of the reference period, the more time there is to allow for investigations to conclude and for further detections, or in this case prosecutions, to be achieved. The increase in detections classed as a charge or summons in each further year tends to decrease. This feature affects some crime types more than others. The effect of the time lag should be considered in respect of the time series.
The proportion of crimes in Group 02 (Sexual offences) which have led to charge or summons for crimes reported in years 2014, 2015 and 2016 was 22%, 24% and 24% respectively. Although the figures for more recent years are progressively lower - at 21% for 2017, 19% for 2018, 18% for 2019, and 9% for 2020 - it is reasonable to expect that these levels for the more recent years will increase over time. See Table 5.1
Despite the time lag, the proportion of crimes in Group 07 (Burglary and related offences), Group 08 (Theft and related offences) and Group 12 (Damage to property and to the environment) which have led to charge or summons is higher for crimes reported in 2020 than for crimes reported in 2014. See Table 5.1 and Figure 5.1
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| 01 Homicide Offences | 76.8 | 80.7 | 78.8 | 70.8 | 78.8 | 74.2 | 83.3 |
| 02 Sexual Offences | 22 | 23.6 | 23.7 | 20.6 | 19.3 | 17.6 | 8.5 |
| 03 Attempts/Threats to Murder, assaults, harassments and related offences | 27.5 | 27.8 | 29.5 | 26.7 | 25.7 | 25.4 | 27.3 |
| 06 Robbery, Extortion and Hijacking Offences | 28.4 | 28.6 | 32.8 | 32.1 | 29.1 | 28.6 | 29.1 |
| 07 Burglary and Related Offences | 12.5 | 13.2 | 15.1 | 15 | 16.2 | 14.5 | 20.7 |
| 08 Theft and Related Offences | 19.4 | 21.4 | 26.1 | 26.1 | 27.4 | 26.9 | 30.1 |
| 10 Controlled Drug Offences | 68.8 | 71.4 | 84.7 | 85.5 | 85.5 | 86.1 | 78 |
| 12 Damage to Property and to the Environment | 11.3 | 12.1 | 13.7 | 13.8 | 14.8 | 15.8 | 17.9 |
| 13 Public Order and other Social Code Offences | 45.2 | 43.9 | 54 | 54.5 | 56.1 | 57.3 | 63.1 |
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