Select a region
While 2022 saw lower overall crime rates and the lowest number of burglaries on record, the police force also saw an increase in sexual offences and serious injuries from road traffic collisions compared to previous years.
The latest figures outlining the island’s crime rates were published in the States of Jersey Police 2022 annual report last week.
In the document's foreword, Chief of Police Robin Smith thanked those who helped to maintain low crime levels.
In particular, he praised the response of officers and staff to the sinking of the trawler L'Ecume II and the explosion that destroyed a block of flats at Haut du Mont in December 2022.
Pictured: The States of Jersey Police 2022 annual report and Chief of Police Robin Smith.
He said: "The world of policing and community safety is always changing and, as an organisation, we constantly seek out the best ways to respond and adapt to new challenges.
"Low levels of crime and high levels of public confidence in community safety – key to making our island such a great place to live – are proof of the difference you make."
Express took a look at some of the key statistics revealed in the report...
With the exception of 2020 which saw low crime due to covid lockdowns, 2022 marked the lowest recorded crime level since 2016.
Pictured: All recorded crime each year from 2019 to 2022. (Statistics Jersey)
Overall, there were 3,015 recorded crimes in 2022 – a fall of 11% on the pre-pandemic 2019 and 2% on 2021.
This figure represents just 29 crimes per 1,000 population – which is significantly lower than the recorded crime rate across England and Wales.
Pictured: Improvements in perceptions of neighbourhood safety over time. (Statistics Jersey)
Research by Statistics Jersey indicated that islanders' perceptions of safety remained high, with an increase in those considering their neighbourhoods to be very safe between 2007 and 2022.
Pictured: Burglary and malicious damage crimes have reduced across the last decade. (Statistics Jersey)
While this correlation might suggest Jersey is becoming safer, it is important to note that not all crimes are created equal, with the report admitting that "some are far more harmful than others".
On the one hand, acquisitive crimes like burglary and fraud fell by 55%, and offences against property like damage or theft fell by a quarter compared to 2012, according to the report.
On the other hand, offences against the person have risen by over 20% in that time – accounting for about half of all Jersey’s crime in 2022, according to the report.
This includes assaults, sexual crimes, harassment, child cruelty and neglect.
Pictured: Half of crimes committed in 2022 were 'offences against the person'. (Statistics Jersey)
For example, domestic and business burglaries reached their lowest levels on record in 2022.
There were only 98 burglaries reported in 2022, which is significant decrease from 297 in 2012 and 127 burglaries in 2021.
Since 2012, there has been a 27% decrease in malicious damage offences, a 42% decrease in malicious damage to vehicles, and a 55% decrease in the number of vehicles stolen and driven away.
While acquisitive crime and offences against property have decreased since 2012, offences against the person have risen by over 20% in that time.
These types of offences – including assaults, sexual crimes, harassment, child cruelty and neglect – accounted for about half of all Jersey's crimes in 2022.
Pictured: Crime in 2022 at a glance. (Statistics Jersey)
There were 974 recorded assaults in 2022, which accounted for one-third of all crimes in 2022.
Almost 30% of assaults were related to domestic abuse and 20% were associated with night-time violence in the streets, pubs, and clubs of St Helier.
While 136 sexual offences were recorded in 2020, the report stated that 181 sexual offences were recorded in 2022.
Pictured: The number of sexual offences recorded in 2022. (Statistics Jersey)
The 2022 figure included 52 rapes and approximately 41 sexual offences against children.
There were 1,084 domestic incidents in 2022 but only 417 domestic crimes.
Of these, 282 involved physical assault together with another 32 sexual offences, including 19 rapes.
About 50% of all common or grave criminal assaults on women in Jersey are committed by a spouse or former partner.
Six 'Claire's Law' disclosures were made in 2022 to make victims or potential victims aware of a partner's or ex-partner's previous abusive or violent offending.
There was a sharp increase in serious casualties from road traffic collisions in 2022.
There was a promising three-year period between 2017 and 2019, which saw a downward trend in serious casualties, which plateaued between 2019 and 2021.
Pictured: The number of people killed and seriously injured in road traffic collision from 2012 to 2022. (Statistics Jersey)
Two people were killed in 2022 and 59 were seriously injured in road traffic collisions, with another 186 reported as slightly injured.
A total of 79% of the serious casualties were vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. This compares to just 50% across Great Britain.
In 2022, there was a nearly 30% decrease in the number of crimes committed by young people when compared with the previous year.
Of the young offenders in 2022, 42% were handled solely at Parish Hall Enquiries, with 7% referred to court.
In comparison, 28% of adults were dealt with at Parish Hall and 16% were sent to court.
Between 2019 and 2021, missing children reports increased by a third, despite the number of children involved remaining relatively unchanged, with 82 children accounting for 720 reports in 2022.
Pictured: A small group of young offenders consistently account for a significant percentage of all recorded youth crime each year.
The report also highlighted a persistent trend where a small minority of prolific offenders disproportionately contribute to the overall crime rate.
Between 2011 and 2021, just 10 young offenders consistently accounted for between 14% and 20% of all recorded youth crimes each year.
Even though the overall number of juvenile crimes went down by almost 30% in 2022 when compared with the previous year, the ten 'prolific offenders' were responsible for a big chunk of them.
They were involved in 1,600 incidents, got arrested 80 times, were suspects in 136 more crimes, received 74 warnings, appeared in court 69 times, were the subject of 26 parish hall inquiries, went missing 331 times, were linked to 86 crimes, committed 54 process offences, and were part of 1,364 child subject of concern reports.
The activities of these high-demand individuals had a collective impact on resources that was equivalent to 33 police officers.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.