Murder, serious assaults, sexual assaults and indecency have all risen in the first nine months of this year, compared to the first nine months of 2009.

However, other assaults, robbery and offences against children have all gone down. There have been seven murders so far this year, compared to three in the first nine months of last year.

Serious assaults have risen from 84 to 97. Sexual assaults have risen from 19 to 30, and acts of indecency have risen from ten to 12.

The decrease in robbery has seen instances of that offence drop from 115 to just 61. There were 16 reports of indecent acts against children in the year up to September 30, compared to 16 for the same nine months last year.

Although the overall trend for the past five years has been an increase in crimes against people, Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva said yesterday: "The long term trend of crimes against the person increasing has now stopped and has stabilised. With 195 offences in quarter three 2010, the most recent figures are lower than the average over the last five year period, at 208."