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Police statistics

Cases of serious offences

The number of serious offences reported to the Police in 2022 was 5.402, of which 5.332 were found to be true cases, while in 2021 the number of serious offences reported was 4.580, of which 4.512 were true cases. Both in 2022 and in 2021, the offences against property constitute the largest group of offences, accounting for 39,8% and 37,5% of serious offences respectively, followed by offences injurious to the public in general, accounting for 19,4% and 19,5% respectively. The index of crime per 100.000 inhabitants was calculated to be 584 in 2022 and 501 in 2021, compared to 482 in 2020.

Victims

In 5.332 true cases of serious offences in 2022, a total of 4.868 victims were recorded, 1.053 of which were legal entities. Of the 3.815 victims who were natural persons, 78,3% were Cypriots, 7,2% were EU-27 citizens, while 14,5% were citizens of non-EU countries. In 4.512 true cases of serious offences recorded in 2021, a total of 4.241 victims were recorded, 1.037 of which were legal entities. Of the 3.204 victims who were natural persons, 80,7% were Cypriots, 6,6% were EU-27 citizens, while 12,6% were citizens of non-EU countries. In both years, most of the victims which were legal entities (37,5% in 2022 and 42,3% in 2021) were victims of the group of offences injurious to the public in general, while most of the victims who were natural persons (54,7% in 2022 and 52,7% in 2021) were victims of offences against property.

Offenders (total) Involved in serious offences

A total of 6.917 offenders were involved in the commission of serious offences (true cases) during 2022. Of the 6.885 who were natural persons, 961 were females (14,0%), reflecting the fact that the involvement of women in serious crime remains relatively small compared to that of men. The main offences committed by both females and males were offences against property, accounting for 36,8% of female offenders and 40,6% of male offenders. As regards the citizenship of offenders who were natural persons, 56,4% were Cypriots and 32,2% were non-EU citizens. Similar results were recorded in 2021: a total of 5.896 offenders were involved in the commission of serious offences (true cases). Of the 5.877 who were natural persons, 12,1% were females, 60,8% were Cypriots and 25,2% were non-EU citizens. The main offences committed by both males and females were offences against property (37,6% and 26,2% respectively).

Juvenile Delinquency

During 2022, a total of 713 juveniles (aged less than 18) were involved in the commission of offences, 60 of which were girls, accounting for 8,4% of juvenile offenders. There were 345 juveniles involved in serious offences and 368 in minor offences. Concerning the citizenship of juvenile offenders involved in both serious and minor offences, 54,0% were Cypriots and 27,3% were EU-27 citizens. During 2021, a total of 528 juveniles were involved in the commission of offences, 69 of which were girls (13,1%). A total of 321 juveniles were involved in serious offences and 207 in minor offences. As regards the citizenship of juvenile offenders involved in both serious and minor offences, 65,9% were Cypriots and 17,4% were non-EU citizens.

Judicial statistics

Penal proceedings

During 2022, a total of 64.276 persons (50.150 males and 14.126 females) appeared before the courts charged with an offence and had their cases disposed of, recording an increase of 9,5% from the corresponding figures for 2021, during which 58.704 persons were prosecuted (46.303 males and 12.401 females). The ratio of the number of offenders convicted to the number of persons prosecuted was calculated to be 0,58 in 2022 and 0,57 in 2021.

The share of females to the total number of persons prosecuted has increased over the years from 7,2% in 1976, to 15,1% in 1990 and 17,1% in 2010. In 2020 the corresponding percentage rose to 22,3%, in 2021 it dropped to 21,1%, while in 2022 it rose to 22,0%.

Convictions

The total number of persons convicted in 2022 reached 36.984, of which 28.581, or 77,3%, were males. In 2021, 33.563 persons were convicted, of whom 25.715 (or 76,6%) were males.

Offences

In 2022, the bulk of offences were motoring offences, accounting for 57,2% of the total number of male convictions and 67,0% of the total number of female convictions. The corresponding figures for 2021 were: a share of 53,4% of the total number of male convictions and a share of 59,6% of the total number of female convictions concerned motoring offences.

Sentences

The type of sentence imposed varies according to the nature and gravity of the offence committed and the individual need of the offender for appropriate treatment. Both in 2022 and in 2021, the most imposed sentence by the courts was fines, which was applied in 91,7% and 92,6% of convictions respectively.

Prison statistics

Prison Population

The prison population on the 1^st of September 2022 was 927 persons, 852 males and 75 females. The overwhelming majority of prisoners (97,0%) were 21 years of age or older, while 71,3% were convicted prisoners and 28,7% were prisoners awaiting trial. The Cypriot prisoners amounted to 44,8% of the total. The corresponding figures for 2021 were 645 males, corresponding to 91,2% of the total prison population which had reached 707 persons on the 1^st of September 2021. The prisoners who were 21 years of age or older constituted 95,9% of the total, the Cypriot prisoners 51,3% and the convicted prisoners 72,1%.

Admissions of convicted prisoners

During 2022, the admissions of convicted prisoners numbered 1.001 (833 males and 168 females), of whom 750 males and 164 females had been convicted of criminal offences by the criminal courts and the martial court. The corresponding figures for 2021 were 727 admissions (624 males and 103 females), of whom 568 males and 101 females had been convicted of criminal offences. The rest had been convicted of offences against the military criminal code, or were non-criminal prisoners, i.e. civil debtors or fine defaulters. The rate of sentenced prisoners per 100.000 inhabitants aged 16 and over was 132 in 2022, compared to 97 in 2021. The corresponding rate for penal offenders was 121 in 2022 and 90 in 2021.

Time spent in prison

Most of the sentences imposed in 2022 were of duration up to 18 months, thus resulting in a median length of sentence of 9,6 months compared to 9,1 months in 2021. The actual period spent in prison, however, is generally shorter than that imposed with the sentence, being reduced primarily by the use of remission. Consequently, the median length of stay in prison for the total number of convicted prisoners, computed based on the number of releases in 2022, was 4,1 months compared to 3,6 months in 2021 (based on the corresponding number of releases).

Prison recidivism

Of the total number of admitted prisoners in 2022, the majority, accounting for over 85%, did not have a previous custodial sentence. Of those who had served at least one custodial sentence in the past, 39,3% had been readmitted to prison within a period shorter than 12 months from their last release from prison. Furthermore, 58,0% had been convicted for the same offence group as in their previous custodial sentence.

Methodological notes

Survey Characteristics

The survey aims at examining the overall crime situation in the country and covers three main branches: Police, Judicial and Prison statistics. According to the Police Statistics, the analysis is based on offences recognised as such by the criminal law and covers only serious offences reported to the Police which have been committed by adults, as well as all offences (serious and minor) committed by young persons (aged less than 18 years). As regards Judicial Statistics, the data refers to the year during which the penal proceedings at the courts were completed, that is, the year during which the prosecution of the suspects to the courts and the indictment took place. The year in question is not necessarily the year during which the offence was committed. Concerning Prison Statistics, the analysis covers both convicted prisoners and prisoners awaiting trial.

Definitions

Serious Offences: Indictable offences, attempts or omissions, determined according to the Criminal Law of the country.  

Index of Crime: The ratio of the number of true cases of serious offences reported to the Police per 100.000 inhabitants.

Coverage and Data Collection

The survey in question is based on data from three sources: the Police, the Courts and the Prison Institution.

The first branch, “Police Statistics”, is comprised of the sections “Cases”, “Offenders” and “Victims” and is based on administrative data acquired from the Police.

In the section “Cases”, the analysis concerns cases of serious offences reported to the Police and more specifically, detailed data relating to the time, place and manner in which the offence was committed, as well as the offence group or the individual offences in detail. The basic statistical unit is the case recorded. It is noted that in many cases more than one offence is reported, however, only the most serious offence is recorded, according to the Principal Offence Rule.

In the section “Victims”, the analysis pertains to victims (both legal entities and natural persons) of the cases of serious offences reported to the Police, such as data on the age, gender and citizenship of the victims (natural persons), as well as the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator. The basic statistical unit is the victim.

In the section “Offenders”, the analysis concerns the total number of offenders, both legal entities and natural persons. As regards natural persons, it covers adults involved in the commission of serious offences, as well as juvenile offenders involved both in serious as well as minor offences. What may constitute a criminal act if committed by an adult may not be considered as such if committed by a child, since this is determined by the age of criminal responsibility, according to the country’s legal framework. An offender who is involved in a serious offence more than once (on separate occasions) in one year is counted as two or more persons, i.e. s/he is counted as a different offender in each separate case. Data is presented, inter alia, on the age, gender and citizenship of offenders who are natural persons. The basic statistical unit is the offender involved.

In the second branch, “Judicial Statistics”, data is presented on criminal judicial statistics. It is based on annual returns of criminal proceedings submitted at the end of the year by the District Courts, the Assize Courts and the Martial Court, and it covers both adult and juvenile offenders. The basic statistical unit is the “occasion” on which proceedings against a person are completed.

The third branch titled “Prison Statistics” presents data based on monthly and quarterly reports of the Prison Institution. The basic statistical unit is the prisoner.

For more information visit CYSTAT Portal, sub-theme Living Conditions, Social Protection

CYSTAT-DB (Online Database), Predefined Tables (Excel), or contact Ms Georgia Ioannou at telephone 22602144 or via e-mail at gioannou@cystat.mof.gov.cy.

(AP/GS)