IDFI: ‘the state of emergency, curfew had significant impact on crime reduction in Georgia in 2020’
In its analysis IDFI says that the decrease in the overall crime rate was the result of restrictive measures and has little to do with improving criminogenic situation in the country. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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In order to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on crime rates in Georgia, non-governmental organisation the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) analysed the crime statistics of 2020 registered by the Interior Ministry throughout the country.
The analysis reads that in 2020, despite the decline in the overall crime rate, an upward trend in various crimes continued in Georgia.
IDFI says that the reduction of the crime rate was significantly affected by the state of emergency and the curfew.
Theft cases, which account for 32 per cent of all crimes, decreased by 40 percent in April 2020 (compared to the same month last year). It’s noteworthy that from June 2020, when some Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in the country, the crime rate increased significantly and exceeded the same period of 2019”, reads the document.
In 2020, a total of 56,596 crimes were registered in Georgia, which is 11.7 per cent less than in 2019. The rate of premeditated murder increased by 39.5 per cent, suicide cases were increased by 6.3 per cent, threats – by 36.3 per cent, cybercrime - by 18.7 per cent, domestic violence - by 6.9 per cent”, reads the analysis.
The rate of property crimes (minus 3,149 cases) and drug offenses (minus 2,963 cases) was significantly declined in 2020 in the country.
Cyber crime rate increased significantly (303 cases) during the period of Covid-19 restrictions, which is a record high number for the last four years.
Despite the ban on transport during the Covid-19 pandemic, traffic crime rate increased by 7.7 per cent in 2020 in Georgia.
In its analysis IDFI says that the analysis of crime statistics shows that the decrease in the overall crime rate was the result of restrictive measures and has little to do with improving criminogenic situation in the country.
Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri stated that 2020 was a year of ‘sudden and difficult challenges.’ “The ministry had to carry out a range of activities at the same time. We were ensuring order and safety, controlling the state border, fighting with criminal, ensuring the defence of human rights, fighting against fires and natural disasters, ensuring a safe electoral environment, ensuring traffic safety, carrying out infrastructural projects and the instructions of the Government's Coordinating Council against coronavirus round the clock,” Gomelauri said.
The curfew in seven big cities of Georgia will be lifted on November 20-21, for the second-round of elections.
Crimes against property are the most commonly reported crime in Georgia, reveal statistics released today by official sources. In total 3,493 crimes were registered in Georgia in April 2020, which is 1.5 per cent less compared to the same month of the last year, says the National Statistics Office of Georgia.
The number of crimes registered between January and March of 2020 has decreased by more than 10 per per cent compared to the same period of the last year.
The Georgian government has decided to shorten the curfew from between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Restaurants and cafes will be able to receive consumers in their open spaces throughout the week. Earlier they were unable to receive consumers on the weekend. Georgia first imposed curfew in March 2020.
In order to support the farmers sell their agricultural produce the Georgian government has decided to shorten the curfew from between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., announces Chief of the Operational Staff of the Interagency Coordination Council Giorgi Gibradze.
Georgian law enforcement agencies solved 33,805 out of 54,435 crime cases throughout 2022, marking a 62.1 percent solution rate, new figures released by the Interior Ministry on Thursday show.