Nicosia: The number of serious criminal offences reported to the Police increased in 2024, according to the latest data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus. A total of 5,942 serious crime cases were reported during the year, of which 5,900 were recorded as actual cases, compared with 5,653 reported cases and 5,630 actual cases in 2023.
According to Cyprus News Agency, offences against property remained the most prevalent category of serious crime, accounting for 31.8% of all cases in 2024, although this represented a decline from 34.8% in 2023. In second place in 2024 were offences against the person, which made up 26.8% of serious crimes. In contrast, in 2023 the second most common category concerned offences harming the public in general, at 19.4%.
The serious crime index, or crime rate, rose to 605 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, up from 588 in 2023 and 568 in 2022, confirming a steady upward trend over the past three years.
In the 5,900 actual serious crime cases recorded in 2024, a total of 6,651 victims were identified. Of these, 5,128 were natural persons and 1,523 were legal entities. In 2023, the corresponding number of victims stood at 5,531, including 4,444 natural persons and 1,087 legal entities.
In both years, the majority of legal entities were victims of offences harming the public in general, accounting for 53.4% in 2024 and 43.8% in 2023. As for natural persons, offences against the person were the most common category in 2024, affecting 39.8% of victims, while in 2023 the largest share of natural persons were victims of offences against property, at 45.0%.
A total of 7,470 offenders were involved in serious crime cases in 2024. Of the 7,433 offenders who were natural persons, 820 were women, representing 11.0% of the total and underlining the continued low participation of women in serious crime. As in 2023, offences against property were the most common crimes committed by offenders, accounting for 32.8%.
Juvenile delinquency showed a marked increase. In 2024, 774 minors were involved in criminal offences, both serious crimes and minor offences, compared with 602 in 2023. Of these, 467 minors were involved in serious crimes and 307 in minor offences. Girls accounted for 4.4% of juvenile offenders in 2024, down from 8.6% the previous year. In both years, offences against property were the most common among minors.
The number of persons brought before the courts fell by 12.5% in 2024 to 62,066, from 70,941 in 2023. Despite the decline, the proportion of women continued to rise, reaching 26.3% in 2024. Convictions totalled 32,683, with men accounting for 72.0% of those convicted. Most convictions concerned traffic offences, while the most common penalty imposed remained a fine.
The prison population stood at 995 inmates on 1 September 2024, with new admissions declining to 917 during the year. More than 83% of those admitted had no previous prison sentence, although a notable proportion of former inmates reoffended within a year.