Thefts continue to prevail.

The measures taken by the district prosecutor's office and other law enforcement agencies have prevented an increase in crime last year. The crime rate per 10,000 population was 63.3 and is one of the lowest in the Vitebsk region.

As a result of organizational and preventive measures, the number of car thefts was reduced from 9 to 5, the number of crimes committed by minors from 6 to 1, and the number of crimes committed under the influence of alcohol from 28 to 23, and from 17 to 13 in groups. There were also no attempted murders, rapes, hooliganism, extortion, or robberies.

At the same time, certain negative trends manifested in the dynamics and structure of crime last year. One intentional murder and one intentional infliction of bodily harm were registered. The number of serious crimes increased significantly from 16 to 27, of which 12 were registered by the criminal investigation department (in 2016 – 4).

If the increase in offenses under Article 371-1 of the Criminal Code was a result of identified cases of illegal migration, and under Article 430 of the Criminal Code – of corruption manifestations, then the reasons for the increase in serious and especially serious crimes by the criminal investigation department are deficiencies in the work of preventive entities. Local executive, administrative, and law enforcement bodies still do not take all necessary measures aimed at preventing offenses, alcoholism, and domestic violence.

The increase last year from 34 to 42 crimes committed by individuals with criminal records is also primarily related to insufficient preventive work by the police department, other preventive entities, and existing problems in social adaptation, employment, and establishing a household for individuals released from places of deprivation of liberty. Unemployed citizens with criminal records committed 30 crimes in 2017, which is 5 more than in 2016. In fact, each crime of a mercenary nature was committed by a person not engaged in work.

The largest share (69.5%) of crimes reported by the criminal investigation department consists of thefts, although their number decreased last year, while their detection rate increased. Most theft cases still occur due to free access to property, indicating deficiencies in the prevention of this type of offense among the local population as well as among non-resident citizens.

Y.S.Kezik
District Prosecutor