I

A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO CRIME PREVENTION TO ENHANCE SECURITY IN ZAMBIA

ntroduction:

The report is produced by the

Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) of the Zambia Police Service with the aim of giving an outlook of the crime situation in Zambia for the period 2008 to 2013. We have also made comments on aspects influencing the crime situation on the Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces and we have made recommendations on proactive measures which need to be put in place to reach the crime reduction target of 50% as aspirations projected in the Zambia Police Strategic Plan 2013 - 2016.

  Crime trends from 2008 to 2013

National Crime trends for the past five years was such that, in 2008 to 2009 reduced by (1.4%) i.e. from 91,492 to 90,214 reported cases. It then increased by (3.7%) to 93,581 in 2010. From 2010 to 2011 there was a sharp reduction (13.8%) in crimes reported, i.e.  to 80,613. In 2012 there was a sharp increase (9.9%) to 88,655. However, minor reduction (0.31%) in 2013 was observed from 88,655 to 88,384.

The table and a graph below summarizes the crime trends for the period 2008 to 2013.

Year

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Crime reported

91,492

90,214

93,581

80,613

88,655

88,384

 


 

Source: Police Data Collection Tools.

                            

Distribution of reported cases in Zambia by province for the period 2008 to 2013

During the period under review, Copperbelt province recorded the highest number of criminal cases. This province comprises of mining towns and has the second largest population density and it is also the hub of social - political economy just like Lusaka. Meanwhile, Lusaka was second in terms of crime levels recorded. This is the capital city and has the highest population density and is also the hub of social – political economy. Thus frequency of crime was relatively higher in the two provinces due high activity in business transactions. The rest of the provinces recorded relatively low crime levels as can be seen on the table below.

                                               

Province

                                                    Year

 

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Lusaka

20,547

19,407

19,005

17,568

22,923

24,056

Copperbelt

32,469

31,197

34,938

21,919

25,161

30,600

Central

6,168

5,871

9,477

4,428

6,017

5,377

Northern

5,189

5,502

6,639

6,101

3,964

2,137

Eastern

4,228

3,994

4,399

5,292

3,798

5,008

N/western

3,679

3,595

3,980

5,252

4,222

3,580

Western

3,769

5,656

2,412

5,654

6,569

2,449

Southern

11,254

10,165

9,215

9,580

10,099

9,781

Luapula

4,189

4,827

3,516

4,819

4,257

3,994

Muchinga

-

-

-

-

1,645

1,397

   


                                                                    

Crime statistics on selected offences reported to and dealt with by the Police for the period 2008 to 2013

               

                               Year

2008

2009

2010

Offence

Reported

Arrests

Reported

Arrests

Reported

Arrests

Murder

694

379

812

461

812

423

Agg/robbery

1,838

495

1,656

564

1,448

548

Rape

296

129

238

115

297

125

Defilement

2,208

1,877

1,691

640

2,430

1,071

Stock theft

2,855

1,200

2,137

784

1,670

591

Theft of M/v

325

51

294

110

235

134

Arson

921

210

790

200

764

215

Assault O.A.B.H

18,199

7,086

18,333

5,826

20,290

6,493

Theft

10,870

  6,033                                                                                                             

21,312

6,465

15,545

6,181

             
 

                                     Year

2011

2012

2013

Offence

Reported

Arrests

Reported

Arrests

Reported

Arrests

Murder

863

537

885

475

867

613

Agg/robbery

2,114

334

1,415

552

1,168

362

Rape

250

111

323

138

294

115

Defilement

1,354

838

2,392

943

1,159

709

Stock theft

1,829

712

2,042

1,076

1,650

939

Theft of M/v

288

88

407

108

420

161

Arson

795

283

812

219

696

251

Assault O.A.B.H

18,835

4,958

23,647

7,242

21,201

7,841

Theft

15,750

4,522

16,682

4,789

15,786

5,546


Conclusion

Air Force 1 High