You are here : publications : books :The Mauritius Crime Survey

SECTION II: ANALYSIS

7. The crime survey looked at 97 categories of offences (refer to Annex 1) comprising the totality of reports. Of these, the top thirty comprised 98% of all reported offences and the top ten a total of 92% of all reported offences.

Table 1: Top 30 most reported offences in Mauritius

	Number of reported offences			Rate per 100 000
	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
Other traffic offences	67 289	90 581	101 553	5 608	7 485	8 305
Exceeding the speed limit	14 462	25 213	32 159	1 205	2 083	2 630
Assault (both simple & serious wounds and blows)	12 050	11 893	12 422	1 004	1983	1 016
Contraventions not otherwise classified	4 827	8 156	7 217	402	674	590
Other simple larcenies	8 535	6 252	6 970	711	517	570
Misdemeanours not otherwise classified	6 092	6 152	6 485	508	508	530
Crimes against the Dangerous Drugs Act	2 966	3 022	3 361	247	250	275
Dangerous and inconsiderate etc. driving	2 666	2 282	2 272	222	189	186
Larceny breaking (both day and night breaking)	1 221	1 484	1 496	102	123	122
Driving under the influence of liquor	1 539	1 521	1 374	128	126	112
Trading without licence	1 011	1 085	1 290	84	90	105
Larceny from motor vehicles	583	1 020	1 172	49	84	96
Offences regarding shopping hours	1 093	1 455	1 124	91	120	92
Bicycle Contraventions	668	1 563	930	56	129	76
Larceny of cellular phones and pagers	334	690	916	28	57	75
All other offences against licence laws	424	791	894	35	65	73
Auto/motor larceny	327	706	892	27	58	73
Disturbance	854	824	845	71	68	69
Bicycle larceny	864	783	727	72	65	59
Larceny with violence	783	772	704	65	64	58
Using unlicensed motor vehicles	123	433	699	10	36	57
Simple embezzlement	543	683	654	45	56	53
Outrage/assault against public functionary	436	475	495	36	39	40
Involuntary wounds & blows	673	429	399	56	35	33
Pradial larceny	305	405	401	25	33	33
Attempt at larceny	143	359	385	12	30	31
Issuing cheques without provision	178	353	374	15	29	31
Swindling	577	363	324	48	30	26
Idle & disorderly person, rogue & vagabond	274	260	317	23	21	26
Contraventions against pedestrians	25	16	293	2	1	24

8. Of the top thirty most frequent offences 12 are contraventions and of this 7 are trafficrelated. Of the rest, 13 are misdemeanours and 5 are crimes. For purposes of the analysis, this section will not differentiate from the three major categories of offence but follow the seven recognized offence types utilized by the Police:
   
   a. Traffic
   b. Property
   c. Person
   d. Drugs
   e. Fraud and dishonesty
   f. Morality
   g. Licence law
   


9. Traffic: Overwhelmingly, the survey demonstrates that traffic-related offences are the single largest type of offence in Mauritius.

   Table 2: Distribution of traffic offences from 2001-2003

   Traffic Offences	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000
   Dangerous and inconsiderate driving	2 666	2 282	2 272	222	189	186
   Driving under the influence of liquor	1 539	1 521	1 374	128	126	112
   Exceeding the speed limit	14 462	25 213	32 159	1 205	2 083	2 630
   Bicycle contraventions	668	1 563	930	56	129	76
   Contraventions against pedestrians	25	16	293	2	1	24
   Using unlicensed motor vehicles	123	433	699	10	36	57
   Other traffic offences	67 289	90 581	101 553	5 608	7 485	8 305
   Total	86 772	121 609	139 280	7 232	10 049	11 390

   
   
   1. With regard to increases in the other areas, these are explained by the crackdown operations and zero tolerance policy adopted by the police since 2002 which have led to many more police reports and actions. In 2002, in response to concern about the traffic situation and the increase in road accidents and fatalities, the police undertook a sensitization campaign, mounted aggressive patrolling operations, regular speed check operations, a public awareness campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Transport and Navigation, and adopted a zero tolerance policy with offenders. Further, the police became involved in the relevant amendments to the Road Traffic Act which will see a point system introduced as a deterrent to repeat offenders.
   
   
   2. The figures, as indicated in the survey, cannot be interpreted as an emerging area of concern because they show clearly the effectiveness of ongoing police response to the problem as identified before, and the results of the sensitization campaign. A second component of the police strategy is tied to the new licensing system which is shortly going to be put in place. Therefore, it is expected that the increase shown in these areas will continue until the implementation of the planned new driver licensing system which makes provision for tougher penalties and the identification of multiple offenders.
      
      Chart 5: Proportion of traffic offences in 2003
      Proportion of traffic offences in 2003 (percent) (n=139280)
      
      
      
      Chart 6: Distribution of traffic offences from 2001-2003
      Traffic offences (rate per 100 000)
      
10. Property: The second single largest type of offence in Mauritius relates to offences against property.
    
    1. Property offences comprise of 24 types corresponding to two categories: crimes and misdemeanours. On crime categories there are 13 offences. Of these, seven are decreasing and six are increasing. In the misdemeanour category, which comprises of 11 offences, there have been 5 decreasing offence types and six increasing ones.
    
    
    2. Decreases can be partially explained as the side-effect of improved and increased policing, and the implementation of crime prevention strategies which included an integrated approach to policing. For example, larceny with aggravating circumstances decreased to 68 incidents from 273; night breaking dropped to 778 from 969; and simple attempts at larceny decreased to 6 970 from 8 535. These decreases are clearly linked to denial of opportunity due to more aggressive and frequent patrolling including increased after hours patrolling by traffic police, roadblocks carried out by the special support unit, stop and search operations, and the commencement of the police/public partnership initiative and awareness programme.

       Table 3: Distribution of property offences from 2001-2003

       Crimes against property	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000			Difference between 2003 and 2001
       	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
       Larceny from motor vehicles	583	1 020	1 172	49	84	96	589
       Larceny of cellular phones and pagers	334	690	916	28	57	75	582
       Auto/moto larceny	327	706	892	27	58	73	565
       Larceny (day) breaking	252	621	718	21	51	59	466
       Attempt at larceny	143	359	385	12	30	31	242
       Pradial larceny	305	405	401	25	33	33	96
       Larceny scaling	9	56	73	1	5	6	64
       Larceny armed with offensive weapon	69	69	92	6	6	8	23
       Larceny with wounding	9	11	23	1	1	2	14
       Larceny false key	8	14	14	1	1	1	6
       Larceny violence by night breaking	21	47	27	2	4	2	6
       Fowls Thefts	14	16	19	1	1	2	5
       Receiving and possession of stolen property	134	138	133	11	11	11	-1
       Extortion	4	4	2	0	0	0	-2
       Car/van larceny	78	73	63	6	6	5	-4
       Arson	72	73	63	6	6	5	-9
       Larceny of other heavy vehicles	28	14	12	2	1	1	-16
       Larceny by servant or any person in receipt of wages	66	147	48	6	12	4	-18
       Criminal damage to property	56	44	24	5	4	2	-32
       Larceny with violence	783	772	704	65	64	58	-79
       Bicycle larceny	864	783	727	72	65	59	-137
       Larceny night breaking	969	863	778	81	71	64	-191
       Larceny with other aggravating circumstances	273	81	68	23	7	6	-205
       Other simple larcenies	8 535	6 252	6 970	711	517	570	-1 565
       Total	13 936	13 270	14 335

       
       
       Chart 7: Distribution of property offences in 2003
       Proportion of property offences in 2003 (percent) (n=14335)
       
       
    
    
    3. With regard to increases the most frequent offences are larceny day breaking (718 from 252), larceny of cellular phones (up 916 from 334), larceny from motor vehicles (up 1 172 from 583) and auto motor larceny (892 from 327). With regard to the increase in larceny day breaking this can be ascribed to the displacement of crime due to a more pronounced police presence at night and the fact that in many areas houses are left unattended during working hours. Larceny from motor vehicles is occurring mostly from unguarded parking lots at shopping centres, public beaches and side streets. In some cases motor vehicles are left unlocked. Articles of value are often left in full view of passersby and access is gained by forced entry into the vehicle. Auto motor in contrast to larceny from motor vehicles involves the theft of the vehicle or components of the vehicle. Larceny of cell phones and pagers occur mostly as opportunistic crimes on soft targets.
       
       
       Chart 8: Distribution of crimes against property by type in 2003
       Crimes against property in 2003 (rate per 100 000) (n=14335)
       
       
       
    
    
    4. The dramatic increase in the four types of offence is of concern, and steps and measures need to be taken in this regard. Commonalities among all of these offences imply high value items that are easily transported, concealed and easily disposed of. They are also all clear cases of opportunistic crimes. Cell phone robbery has been identified as an emerging crime trend and although some actions have been recently taken with regards to sim card registration, more work needs to be undertaken such as considering higher penalties for the possession of stolen property, further research into profiling of offender and victim, further understanding of the attraction and the profitability of these crimes and misdemeanours in order to put in place a deterrent and preventative police strategy. It is conceivable that such a strategy will require new patrolling modalities; improved police/private partnerships, particularly with the re-sale and second hand industry and mobile phone operators; and enhanced awareness from potential victims.
       
       
       Chart 9: Proportion of larceny breaking occurring in day and night from 2001-2003
       Proportion of larceny breaking occuring in day and at night from 2001 to 2003
       
       
       
       
       
11. Person: In general, crimes against the person have decreased over the period 2001 to 2003. However, out of a possible 15 types there are four types on the increase: abortion, attempted murder, wounds and blows causing death, and simple wounds and blows. Of these, the first three, categorized as crimes, register minimal changes, although in attempted murder some attention should be bestowed. The single most worrying increase is that of the misdemeanour category of simple wounds and blows. To understand this trend, it is necessary to take all similar types into the same consideration. This allows for an interpretation closer to reality, as follows:
    
    
    Chart 10: Distribution of reported offences against person by type in 2003
    Proportion of person offences in 2003 (percent) (n=12936)
    
    
    
    
    1. Of the three types relating to wounds and blows, there is a decrease in two categories and an increase in the simple wounds and blows type. This increase equals about 3.4%.

       Table 4: Distribution of different types of wounds and blows comprising assault from 2001-2003

       	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000 of the population
       Different components of assault	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
       Serious wounds & blows not classified as crime	121	174	69	10	14	6
       Simple wounds & blows	11 929	11 719	12 353	994	968	1 010
       Wounds and blows causing death	1	1	3	0	0	0
       Wounds and blows causing loss of limb/eye	0	0	0	0	0	0
       Total wounds and blows (assault)	12 051	11 894	12 425

       
       
       
       Chart 11: Distribution of different types of wounds and blows comprising assault from 2001-2003
       Distribution of wounds & blows by category from 2001-2003
       
       
       
       
    
    
    2. In 2001, simple wounds and blows reported were 11 929. By 2003 this had grown to 12 353. Of these reported misdemeanours, 3 003 were cases of domestic violence; therefore some 23.2% of the total in this type of offence relates to domestic violence.
    
    
    3. When further analyzing the domestic violence figures it is possible to see an increase of 34% over the same time period. The surge in this type of offence between 2001 and 2003 could be explained by improved awareness of domestic violence victims resulting in increased reporting. It could also relate to the creation of the Family Protection Unit of the police in 2001 and the promulgation of the Domestic Violence Act in 1997.

       Table 5: Proportion of domestic violence-related offences in assaults from 2001-2003

       
       

       	Number of reported incidents			Percent
       Proportion of assaults comprised of domestic violence	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
       Wounds and blows (assault)	10 070	9 786	9 422	83.6	82.3	75.8
       Total number of domestic violence-related assaults	1 981	2 108	3 003	16.4	17.7	24.2
       Total wounds and blows (assault)	12 051	11 894	12 425	100.0	100.0	100.0

    
    
    4. The survey therefore might show that domestic violence has been historically under-reported but that there is greater awareness today leading people to report this offence. It is expected that an actual decrease in domestic violence might be forthcoming once the Act, the Protection Unit and the awareness campaign are consolidated in Mauritius. Nevertheless, one recommendation from this survey would be to maximize a public awareness campaign to reduce domestic violence incidence.
       

       Table 6: Distribution of offences against the person from 2001-2003

       Offences against the person	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000 of the population			Difference between 2003-2001
       	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
       Involuntary wounds & blows	673	429	399	56	356	33	-274
       Serious wounds & blows not classified as crime	121	174	69	10	14	6	-52
       Abduction of minor	7	8	3	1	1	0	-4
       Abandoning or exposing a child by other than guardian	9	1	5	1	0	0	-4
       Murder	27	24	26	2	2	2	-1
       Infanticide	2	0	1	0	0	0	-1
       Manslaughter	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
       Wounds and blows causing loss of limb/eye	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
       Administering noxious substance	7	8	7	1	1	1	0
       Abandoning/exposing child by guardian	6	4	6	1	0	0	0
       Involuntary homicide	43	65	43	4	5	4	0
       Attempt at murder	10	5	11	1	0	0	0
       Murder of a newly born child	0	1	1	0	0	0	1
       Castration	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
       Wounds and blows causing death	1	1	3	0	0	0	2
       Abortion	3	5	8	0	0	1	5
       Simple wounds & blows	11 929	11 719	12 353	994	968	1 010	424
       Total	12 838	12 444	12 936

    
    
    5. However, the rate of violent crime in Mauritius is low and this indicates that violence is not endemic to Mauritian society.
    
    
12. Morality: In general there is an increase in crimes against morality. The only type that has decreased is bestiality which is insignificant as only one case was reported in 2001. There have been marked increases in all the other categories. Indecent acts in public increased from 58 cases in 2001 to 105 in 2003, an increase of 44, 8%. In the case of sodomy the increase was 12.1%, rape 18. %, attempts upon chastity 18.5%, and sexual intercourse with a female under 16 increased by 27.8%.
    

    Table 7: Distribution of offences against morality from 2001-2003

    Offences Against Morality	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000 of the population			Difference between 2003-2001	Proportion change between 2003-2001
    	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
    Indecent act in public	58	84	75	5	7	9	47	44.8
    Sexual intercourse with female under 16	83	98	115	7	8	9	32	27.8
    Attempt upon chastity	66	69	81	6	6	7	15	18.5
    Rape	41	37	50	3	3	4	9	.0
    Sodomy	29	36	33	2	3	3	4	12.1
    Bestiality	1	0	0	0	0	0	-1	n/a
    Total	278	324	354

    
    
    1. Offences against morality are similar to offences against persons and the high level of reporting might be attributed to the Domestic Violence legislation and the heightened awareness that has been created around the need to report crime. In addition, the proactive stance of the Ombudsperson of children, as well as the Police Family Protection Unit have had positive repercussions in encouraging victims to report this type of offence. The legislative and administrative structures that have been put in place are commendable and must be seen as the first step in addressing the needs of victims. The police are working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare and several coordinating meetings have taken place between its representatives, NGO’s of the affected areas, as well as police officers.
       
       
       Chart 12: Distribution of reported offences of morality by type in 2003
       Number of offences against morality in 2003 (n=384)
       
       
       
       
       
       
    2. The majority of these types of offences take place in private and make proactive policing a challenge. As such it is recommended that the problem could be addressed by public awareness campaigns through community policing initiatives, and by keeping a close watch on this emerging trend. It would be important to undertake further research in this offence category taking into account any potential external socio economic and cultural trend that is impacting on Mauritian society.
    
    
    Chart 13: Distribution of offences against morality from 2001-2003
    Number of offences against morality from 2001-2003
    
    
    
    
13. Fraud and Dishonesty: Under this category of offences there are seven crimes and three misdemeanours. The biggest increases in this category are; individuals bribing an official, issuing a cheque without provision, embezzlement by a public servant, and simple embezzlement. Offences of individuals bribing a public official have increased from five offences in 2001 to 15 offences in 2003. Issuing a cheque without provision has increased by 52.4% from 178 offences in 2001 to 374 in 2003. Embezzlement by a public servant has increased 41.5% from 24 offences in 2001 to 41 in 2003. Simple embezzlement increased from 543 in 2001 to 654 in 2003, reflecting an increase of 17%.


1. Swindling has decreased from 577 offences in 2001 to 324 in 2003, a decrease of 253 offences. Currency offences, including coinage, have decreased from 67 offences in 2001 to 31 offences in 2000, a drop of 36 offences. The offence of a public official accepting a bribe has decreased from 9 offences in 2001 to 3 offences in 2003.


2. It is interesting to note the offence of offering a bribe to officials has increased by the same amount that the offence of an official accepting a bribe has decreased. This can be attributed to three measures; the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the promulgation of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the intensification of measures within the police to improve the integrity and ethics of police officers.

   Table 8: Distribution of offences of fraud and dishonesty from 2001-2003

   Offences - Fraud and Dishonesty	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000			Difference between 2003-2001	Proportion change between 2003-2001
   	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
   Offences against Representation of People Act	1	4	0	0	0	0	-1	n/a
   Individual bribing officer or public official	5	6	15	0	0	1	10	66.7
   Issuing cheques without provision	178	353	374	15	29	31	196	52.4
   Embezzlement by public servant	24	30	41	2	2	3	17	41.5
   Simple embezzlement	543	683	654	45	56	53	111	17.0
   Personation	7	7	8	1	1	1	1	12.5
   Forgery and making use	153	161	169	13	13	14	16	9.5
   Swindling							-253	-56.2
   Currency offences including coinage	67	37	31	6	3	3	-36	-53.7
   Officer or public official accepting bribe	9	5	3	1	0	0	-6	-66.7
   Total	1 564	1 649	1 619				55	3.4



3. There are two offences that use computers as tools: forgery and currency offences. Offenders are using home computers to forge documents and certificates. There are two pieces of legislation which have been put in place to prevent future trends through the Information and Communication Technologies Act 2001, the Computer and Cyber Crime Act and the Protection of Data Act which aim to assist in preventing these types of offences.
   
   Chart 14: Distribution of reported offences of fraud and dishonesty by type in 2003
   The number of fraud and dishonesty offences in 2003 (n=1619)
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Nevertheless, it will be a challenge to regulate these Acts and control these offences since the equipment needed to undertake these offences is easily available in the open market. For all of these reasons, the survey points to this type of offence as an emerging crime trend and for a sustained plan for capacity building in the police force to face this challenge. This is an area of serious concern for the police and an emerging crime trend that needs to be addressed.
   
   Chart 15: Distribution of offences of fraud and dishonesty from 2001-2003
   Number of fraud and dishonesty offences from 2001-2003
   
   
   
   
   
   
14. Drugs: Contraventions under the Dangerous Drugs Act have shown a sustained increase from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, there were 3 361 offences which is an increase of 395 since 2001. The increase in the numbers is attributed to very effective policing of the problem which leads to captures, and to an increase in volume. The improved efficiency of the captures can be attributed to the actions by two specialized police units, the ADSU and the flying squad, improved surveillance, road blocks with stop and search, improved coordination of ground activities and proactive strategies, intelligence sharing with the Customs Department, joint operations with the SSU, SMF with the regular police, and partnerships with the local population and public awareness programmes.
    
    1. Nevertheless, the fact that the specialized units have been operative since 1986 and that they are capturing great amounts of drugs, and the increase in the number of offences detected by the survey, point to an area of great concern. As more drugs are captured, more are flowing in. This is not a decreasing trend and the dynamics of the drug environment makes for frequent changes in the offender behaviour making it harder to detect and seize.
    
    
    2. This offence is a continuing and escalating crime trend that will demand constant capacity and surveillance by the police force. This is definitely an emerging crime trend in Mauritius.

       Table 9: Distribution of offences against the Dangerous Drugs Act from 2001-2003

       Dangerous Drugs Act	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000 of the population			Difference between 2001-2003
       	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
       Crimes against the Dangerous Drugs Act	2 966	3 022	3 361	247	250	275	395
       Total	2 966	3 022	3 361	247	250	275

       
       
       Chart 16: Distribution of crimes against the Dangerous Drugs Act from 2001-2003
       Crimes against the Dangerous Drugs Act from 2001-2003
       
       
       
       
       
       
15. Licence law: Under contraventions of the licence law, there are four types of offences. Overall, contraventions of licence law increased from 2 536 offences in 2001 to 3 354 offences in 2003, which represents an increase of 718 offences.

    Table 10: Distribution of contravention of the licence law from 2001-2003

    Offences against licence law	Number of reported incidents			Rate per 100 000 of the population			Difference between 2001-2003
    	2001	2002	2003	2001	2002	2003
    Trading without licence	1 011	1 085	1 290	84	90	105	279
    All other offences against licence laws	424	791	894	35	65	73	470
    Offences regarding shopping hours	1 093	1 455	1 124	91	120	92	31
    Offences against weights & measures	8	29	46	1	2	4	38
    Total	2 536	3 360	3 354

    
    
    1. The data on this type of offence is stable, showing periodic increases and decreases. Most of the offences against licence law are committed by entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises trading without licences or working outside of legal trading hours. Although this is not an emerging crime trend, it would be important to improve the knowledge of the people as to the responsibilities and rights of persons intending to dedicate themselves to trade and commerce. It is in the grey area between the formal and informal economies that most of these offences are committed. A public awareness and information process to improve the public understanding of the regulations might improve the situation, which could include a police-business forum.
       
       Chart 17: Distribution of contravention of the licence law by type in 2003
       Number of offences against the licence law in 2003 (n=3354)
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       Chart 18: Distribution of contraventions of the licence law from 2001-2003
       Number of offences against the licence law from 2001-2003
       
       
       
       
       
       

< back to contents

about us | events | programmes | publications | contact us

Copyright © 2006 SaferAfrica

home search