NCJ Number
74343
Date Published
1980
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article presents a brief summary of crime trends and related problems in Papua New Guinea.
Abstract
The trends highlighted in this summary include the fact that offenses against property are becoming more sophisticated and offenders are aiming their activities at areas where they will obtain the maximum returns for their criminal activity. Violent offenses show a massive increase, evidencing an aggressive and bold approach by criminal elements. In the area of fraud as well, offenders are becoming more sophisticated, concentrating on areas where the returns are the greatest and detection difficult. The statistics on which these trends are based derive from 1974 to 1979 annual crime rates. In 1974-75 the total number of reported property offenses was 21,350, whereas in 1977-78 the reported property offenses numbered 18,791. However, despite the seeming drop in offenses, the value of stolen property increased dramatically. The number of offenses against property was directly related to the illegal use of motor vehicles; offenders are becoming more mobile and attack targets at long distances from where they live. Concerning offenses against persons, there was an increase of 138.7 percent in reported murder cases between 1974-75 and 1977-78. Assaults causing bodily harm rose 135.2 percent, and rape increased 77.3 percent. No references are supplied.