Crimes against individuals have soared in the last five years, with 2009 recording the highest number of offences.

In total there were 592 assaults, 110 serious assaults and six murders, Police said this morning at their year-end crime statistics conference. This means there were 925 crimes against individuals in 2009 compared to 791 in 2005.

The fourth quarter alone saw three murders. It is the first time there has been more than two murders in a quarter.

Last year also saw the highest number of firearm offences, in total there were 38, but arrests were also up by 40 percent compared to the previous year.

Despite the murders and shootings throughout the fourth quarter last year, overall crime actually decreased by 3.9 percent compared to the same period in 2008.

Crimes against property, such as theft and burglary, were down 11 percent, by 435 offences compared to 2008.

For the full story read tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.