SOMALILAND: Police reveal 2010 annual crimes – surge in rape, murder

SOMALILAND: Police reveal 2010 annual crimes – surge in rape, murder

Somaliland police during the 17th anniversary celebration

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland's police enforcement chief, Mr Abdullahi Fadal Aiman released the annual crime report on Wednesday (3rd November) to local media and the public during a ceremony commemorating the 17th anniversary since the creation of the national force.

Mr Aiman paid tribute to his men and women in uniform by saying they have remarkably executed their mandate since their creation in 1993 and contributed the overall stability in the country.

The National Police Force was created after the harmonization of warring militants that removed the Siad Bare totalitarian regime.

Each of the country's 6 administrative regions have a police commandant and commissioned officers that maintain law and order in the districts.

The police under these divisional and station commands carries out an array of tasks that include criminal investigation, patrolling, traffic management and the protection of leaders and foreign dignitaries under the UK-funded and trained Special Protection Unit (SPU) wing.
The force also includes a small number of anti-riot personnel.

Even though the police comes under the Minister of Interior, the force functions completely independent and works closely with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the military.

The latest figures comparing a 12 month period from November 2009 to November 2010 show surge in crimes in Somaliland's urban towns. There have been significant rise in the number of reported sexual offences, murder and road fatalities.

There has been 5.2 per cent increase in murder cases from last year figures; 64 people were arrested for the 81 cases reported for murder, 17 cases have not been solved.

There has been sharp surge in sexual related crimes (rape), 186 cases were reported, an increase of 19.24 per cent. About 206 people were accused, 162 arrests were made.

Road toll in the country has been recorded for the first time; there were 1496 road accidents throughout the country which led to 148 fatalities, 1279 injuries, 410 cars damaged and 182 livestock were killed.

In a country where the consumption and selling of alcohol is illegal, the police destroyed about 2,221 litres (586 gallons) of alcohol, making 21 arrests.

For the first time in Somaliland's history, six cases were reported as suicide related.

The police also recorded 8 cases of boarder babies–infants abandoned by their mothers, in total two have died while six others are in foster care and receiving medical care.

In total, Mr Aiman revealed in the past year the police handled 18,343 cases; 5015 of them brought in front of a court, while 8584 cases were resolved through mediation, further 1788 cases were judged or imprisoned. He added 3511 cases were dismissed or lacked insufficient evidence while 1223 cases are currently under investigation.

The latest figures show the rise in crime in Somaliland's urban towns in particular the worrying levels of rape, road fatality and murder. Unless the new regime tackles the ongoing problems, Somaliland could become the new Johannesburg of the Horn.

To see 2009 crime report click the link under:
http://samotalis.blogspot.com/2010/11/somaliland-annual-crime-statistics.html
Somalilandpress | Sunday, 7 November 2010