Crime figures - Stiff test for new justice minister

Crime figures released yesterday make harrowing reading. Murders and manslaughter are up 27%, along with kidnappings, while assaults and instances of harassment are up 10% on the previous year.

Burglaries are up 4%, theft up 3% and fraud up by 17%.

Public order offences are up 7% and drug offences have increased by 31%, and there was a 129% jump drug driving offences. On the other hand, robbery, extortion and hijacking are down by 7%, which includes a 43% drop in cash-in-transit raids. Sexual offences declined by 8% to 1,248. In the 14 categories of crime listed, there were increases in ten and a drop in four, while the overall crimes increased by 6%.