Crime overall has fallen according to figures released by Police this morning — but firearm and anti-social behaviour offences are at ten year highs.

The Police released the figures in the quarterly bulletin of crimes for the first three months of 2010.

They show that firearm offences and serious assaults rose during the first three months of the year compared to the last three months of 2009.

Meanwhile, traffic collisions motor vehicle theft and burglary decreased during the same period. Arrests were also up 40 percent.

A Police spokesman said: “The Bermuda Police Service rate of arrests remains high, approaching 100 per week. There were 11 arrests for murder and 15 arrests for firearm offences in the first quarter of 2010.

“Police stop and search activity also remains high as the BPS makes good use of new search powers. The BPS searched 1,028 people during the quarter — the second highest level since PACE was implemented in the fourth quarter of 2008.”

The figures revealed:

* There were 1,185 offences in the first quarter of 2010 making it the fourth lowest quarterly crime figure since in ten years.

* Firearm offences rose from 17 during the last quarter of 2009 to 30 during the first quarter of 2010.

* Serious assaults increased from 26 during the last quarter of 2009 to 33 during the first quarter of 2010.

*Fraud and deception increased from 43 during the last quarter of 2009 to 56 during the first quarter of 2010.

* Drug enforcement was up 18 percent with 35 kilos of drugs seaized valued at approximately $1.7 milion.

For a detailed breakdown of all the crime statistics see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette