CHARLESTOWN Nevis (February 18, 2010) — Nevis experienced an overall decrease in crime for 2009 but Head of the Nevis Police Division Superintendent Samuel Seabrookes says there is still a major concern with the incidents of house breaking, drugs and fire arm offences on the island.

The disclosure came when he gave an overview of the Nevis Division of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force at the 7^th annual Police Constables Appreciation Awards Ceremony 210 at the Old Manor Hotel on Saturday.

According to the crime statistics presented by the Senior Police Officer, in the past two years there was a total of 358 cases reported in 2008 and 164 or 46 percent were detected while in 2009 there was a total of 334 matters reported with 123 or 37 percent detected.

In relation to the breakdown of offences he said that in 2008 there were five cases of murder, 24 of unlawful wounding, 77 drugs related, 10 robberies, 51 cases of larceny and 55 reports of house breaking whereas in 2009 there were three reported murders, 10 cases of unlawful wounding and 55 cases of drugs, five cases of robbery, 41cases of larceny and 73 reported house breakins.

Mr. Seabrooks further added that in 2008 a total of seven firearms were removed from the streets while in 2009 that figure increased to nine.

Court fines meted out at the Magistrates Court in 2009 amounted to $303,000.

Meantime with regard to traffic offences he said there was a slight decrease in the number of traffic accidents. Careless driving topped the list as the cause of those accidents followed by stray animals.

In 2008 there was a total of 261 reported traffic accidents three of which were fatal and 13 resulted in serious injuries while in 2009 there was a total of 257 reported cases with no fatalities but eight resulted in serious injury.