IKD: The number of domestic murders and violence increased during pandemic

According to the Kosovo Institute for Justice report (IKD), one more than in 2019 has been committed. There has been an increase in harassment criminal acts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings are built through statistical data from the Kosovo Police, where data between March-December 2019 and March-December 2020 has been compared.

The outbreak of COVIDD-19 has also affected criminal trends.

About 10 months after the first case appearance with COVID-19 in Kosovo, The IKD has done an analysis through which it has reflected the changes of the criminal trend, which consist of reducing or establishing criminality according to its kind.

IKD findings show that during the period of pandemic (March 11th, 2020) in Kosovo, the number of serious murders has been raised in one more case, from 11 to 12 cases.

But there were especially increases in homicide cases, where in the same period of 2019, four (4) cases of murder were accepted during the pandemic period, 11 cases were accepted. So for both of us, (2) the kinds of murders, like total, lifts during the pandemic, had 53.33%. The freeze has also been in terms of harassment criminal acts, where of 379 cases in the same period in 2019, 402, 6.06% more have been accepted in the pandemic period.

According to Kosovo Police data, there has been a decrease in criminality in cases of rowing, where of 1,838 cases during the same period in 2019, this number has dropped to 1,672 cases in the pandemic period, as far as cases of attack have dropped from 1,111 cases to 898 cases.

Regarding the offenses against marriage, The IKD finds that there have been some highly pronounced crime movements, except domestic violence. During April-December 2020, Kosovo police have accepted a total of 1,212 cases of domestic violence. During the Same Period

In 2020, Kosovo police have accepted 1,404 cases, so 191 more cases. Expressed by percentage, it turns out that during the pandemic period, domestic violence has increased by 15.75%.

As for narcotics criminal acts, The IKD finds that there is a decrease in criminal tradition in criminal acts that are related to purchases or distribution and possession of narcotics. Of the 290 cases related to purchase, possession and distribution of narcotics, during the pandemic period this number has dropped to 207, so the number of cases has dropped to 28.62%.

As for unauthorized narcotics possession, this number has dropped from 902 cases to 740 cases, so there has been a reduction of 17.96%. But, on the other hand, during the pandemic period, the criminal acts of narcotics cultivation have been established. Of 23 cases in the same period in 2019, Kosovo Police have accepted 35 cases of this nature during the pandemic. Expressed by percentage, the increase in the number of cases for this criminal offence has been 52.17%.

During the pandemic period, The IKD has also found that there is an increase in criminal tradition in criminal acts against fundamental rights and freedoms. In this respect, in the respect of criminal acts of kidnapping, austerity and photos/incidentisation, the number has increased from 48 cases to 71 cases. So there has been an increase for these crimes of 47.91%.

While, in terms of lowering the criminal trend during the pandemic, IKD findings show that, expressed in the number of cases, the largest drop in this trend has been in proportion to criminal acts against property. In particular, the IKD has found that during the time of the pandemic, there were fewer numbers of theft cases, compared to the same period in 2019 when Kosovo police had accepted 3,754 cases, during the pandemic period, 3,164 cases were accepted, respectively, 15.71% less.

As far as serious thefts are concerned, this number has fallen during the pandemic from 3,065 cases to 2,640 cases. Exactly, during the pandemic period, 13.86% less substance has been accepted. While, in terms of robberies, this number has dropped from 126 cases to 112 cases, or 12.5%.