In an effort to develop and maintain a proactive crime fighting strategy, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is analyzing criminal activity on the island. On Friday, it released crime statistics for the first quarter of the year 2014.

According to Crime Intelligence Unit Acting Corporal, Mervin Robinson, there has been a noted decrease in indictable offenses, but an overall increase in criminal activity for the period ranging from January to May 2014, compared to the first quarter of 2013.

“We logged decreases for crimes against persons, offences against property and drug offences,” Corporal Robinson said. “We had increases in the category of summary offences, firearm offences, and a slight increase in fraudulent crimes. Sexual offences remained the same, with just one less in 2014 than there was in 2013.”

Corporal Robinson said that the Force recorded an overall increase of 266 reported crimes in 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. The number of reported crimes grew to 8,624 from 8,358.

The RSLPF said the statistics were released to alert the public of the levels of crime in the country.

The Police Force is encouraging the public to report any illicit activity to the nearest police station.