Crime rates reach new low across Belgium

The Belgian federal police has never recorded so few criminal offences as in the first quarter of this year. Overall crime rates have dropped by more than 20% over the last six years, writes De Tijd.

The 211,713 criminal offences recorded by the police in the first three months of 2016 constitute a new record low, about 11,000 fewer offences than in the same period last year.

The figure is mostly affected by the decreasing number of thefts in Belgium, with the police recording 15,393 burglaries in the first quarter, compared to 18,110 last year.

There are exceptions to the downward trend, however, with police reports showing a sharp increase in the number of scams and frauds, more stabbings and a slight rise in drug possession and drug trafficking. Domestic violence is also on the rise, according to the police figures.