Murder rate up 500% in two years

Tripoli, 9 January, 2013:

According to the Ministry of the Interior, crime has soared in Libya in the past year.

The number of murders has risen from 87 in 2010 to 525 in 2012, it had reported on its official Facebook page. This represents an increase of 503 percent.

Similarly, thefts from shops and offices over the same period have risen from 143 to 783 — a 448-percent increase. Thefts from private homes have gone up from 1,842 to 2,387 — a 30-percent increase.

The figures underline the lack of security across the country since the revolution. Reports of thefts, particularly car-jackings are common, with people even being killed for resisting.  Even so, the level of murders is likely to surprise many.

Qaddafi released some 15,000 prisoners before the liberation of Tripoli and many have not been recaptured.

Commenting on the rise, the Ministry’s official spokeman, Madgi Al-Urfi said that it ws hoped that crime rates 2013 would be far below these levels.

“We deeply belief that we in Libya are in desperate need of reorganisation and re-construction by way of appointing a single security authority that is built on asound and solid foundation,” he was quoted as saying.

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