increase this year, according to statistics released yesterday.

Total crimes recorded by Police for the first nine months of 1997 dropped 36.6 percent compared to the same period in 1994, although they rose 6.4 percent this year compared to the same period in 1996.

And 46 percent fewer crimes were committed during the third quarter -- July through September -- of 1997 compared to 1994. Crimes fell 5.5 percent in the third quarter between 1995 and 1996.

For both the third quarter and nine month periods, serious crimes fell dramatically between 1996 and 1997.

The figures, which come less than a fortnight of Police Commissioner Colin Coxall's premature departure, show a steady decline in crime for the first nine months of 1994 through 1996. Mr. Coxall came to the Island in early 1995.

Overall totals recorded a 9.9 percent drop -- or from 3,658 to 3,296 -- between the first nine months of 1994 and 1995 and a 33.9 decrease -- or from 3,296 to 2,178 -- between 1995 and 1996.

Statistics for both the first nine months of this year and the third quarter showed a noticeable decline. This was mainly due to a 75 percent drop in armed robberies and a 43 percent decrease in armed and aggravated robberies.

For the first nine months and the third quarter of this year, there was one murder, compared to four in 1996. Armed and aggravated robberies dropped from 58 in 1996 to 33 this year.

Handbag snatchings, school break-ins, and motor cycle removals all dropped during the first nine months of this year compared to the same time last year.

There were 39 handbag snatchings in 1996 and 17 this year; 40 school break-ins compared to 29 this year; and 450 motor cycle thefts compared to 378 this year.

Thefts from hotels and guest houses remained the same at 33 and six, respectively.

However, there was an overall increase in 1997 when reported crimes rose from 2,178 incidents to 2,318, or by 6.4 percent.

And figures showed there was room for improvement on the crime scene.

The number of thefts and breaking offences for the first nine months of this year jumped compared to the same period last year.

Incidents involving thefts increased from 265 to 313, while breaking offences rose from 690 to 855.

The increase in thefts could largely be attributed to thefts from unattended vehicles which jumped from 148 in 1996 to 212 this year. Such incidents also increased during the third quarter of this year compared with last year, or from 62 to 87.

However, while breaking offences increased for the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year -- largely due to an increase in burglary, house breaking, store breaking, and office breaking -- such offences were down compared to 1994 and 1995.

In terms of third quarter statistics, crime fell overall by 5.5 percent.

Crimes of violence in general were down about 21 percent or from 113 cases to 89.

Handbag snatches were down from 26 to six, but the general theft category showed only a smaller decrease of six percent or from 125 incidents to 118.

Breaking offences showed a slight decrease of two percent, or from 269 to 263, and vehicle removals indicated a slight drop of three percent, or from 343 to 333.

POLICE POL