Crimes rates drop dramatically in the province of Almeria

ALMERIA is the Spanish province where crime rates fell the most during the first six months of this year.

Crimes have fallen by 6.8 per cent in Almeria province, followed closely by Cadiz (6.5 per cent) and Malaga (5.8 per cent), the Interior Ministry reports. The figures are well above both the regional average of 3.8 per cent and the national average of 2.7 per cent.

Despite this, the number of violent robberies, petty thefts and break-ins has risen to an average of 60 per day.  However, drugs related crimes have fallen, despite the fact that the majority of people in Almeria doing time in prison are there for dealing in drugs. The Ministry believes that this is due to stricter sentences.

There have been fewer cases of manslaughter and murder (three, compared to four last year) and fewer car thefts.

In the whole of Andalucia, 189,451 crimes were reported in the first six months of this year, and the only province where crime rates have risen is in Cordoba. Cars thefts in the region have fallen by 15.6 per cent and drug trafficking by 18.2 per cent.