MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Social commotion” crimes increase 22,5% in Chile.

Crimes of “greater social commotion” increased 22,5% during the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest release from the Chilean Ministry of Interior.

The report shows that claims filed nationally indicate that "surprise theft" recorded by far the greatest increase with 45,8%, followed by "theft with intimidation", 37,4% and violent theft 30%. However the number of arrests regarding these typed of "social commotion" crime dropped 11,9% from 32,884 to 29,395.

Overall arrests for "intra-family violence" dropped 51,1%, homicide 49,5%; injuries 31,2% and rape 25,7%.

Compared to the previous quarter (Q4, 2003), overall the situation shows a slight 0,5% drop in the claims filed, which can be described as "nine months of stabilization, following strong hikes in the first and second quarter of 2003".

This represents at national level, 610,8 cases per 100,000 population during the first quarter of 2004.

Although most social commotion crimes were committed in Santiago metropolitan area, statistics show that regions to the north of Chile's capital were above the national average.