Analytics, Crime, Estonia, Legislation

From January to the end of June, Estonian law enforcement bodies registered 13,642 offenses, 1,304 cases or 9% fewer than during the same period last year, it appears from figures published by the Justice Ministry.

The most common offense was theft, of which 3,918 cases were registered in the six moths or 15% fewer than the year before. Cases of physical abuse numbered 2,201, also marking a reduction of 15%.

Traffic related offenses meanwhile dropped 16% from 1,904 in January-June last year to 1,606 this year. Fraud cases, the number of which had been increasing in previous years, declined from 931 to 803.

Offenses against person numbered 2,775, including cases of causing of serious damage to health 39, compared with 38 such offenses registered in January-June 2016. The number of manslaughters and murders, including attempts thereof, was 16, down from 20 in the first six months of last year. Rape cases numbered 70, compared with 76 in the first six months of last year.

The few categories of crime that increased year over year included robbery, cases of which numbered 116 this year and 112 in the first six months of 2016. Cases of serious breach of public order increased from 421 to 658 and cases of handling of narcotic substances in a big amount from 543 to 618.

In 2016, a reduction in crime rates in Estonia continued, as the total number of offenses declined by 11% year over year. The number of registered offenses in the 12 months was 28,986, 3,589 fewer than in 2015.