According to the annual Internal Affairs report, there has been a decrease of three percent in the number of crime reports in the Autonomous Region of the Azores compared to the previous year, stressed the Regional Secretary of the Presidency in Ponta Delgada on Thursday afternoon.

André Bradford, who conveyed the positive assessment of the Government about this fact, stated that these figures represent the reversal of an upward trend that had been registered since 2006.

With regard to the aforementioned report, the number of crimes in the Azores has dropped three percent during 2009, compared to the previous year. This represents more than the double of the national decrease average which registered 1.2 perceptual points. Contrary to this trend, the crime rate rose 5.4% in the Autonomous Region of Madeira regarding the previous year.  The Azores recorded a total of 10,669 of crime reports last year while the national value was of 416,058 reports.

Concerning the types of crimes, the Azores have registered a decrease in crimes against property, a category that represents more than half of the crimes in Portugal; however there was an increase of crimes against the person and society, which includes driving under the influence of alcohol, and drug trafficking.

Moreover, the Secretary of the Presidency is satisfied with the fact that, fortunately, violent crimes are rare in the Azores, registering a ratio of less than one serious crime per thousand inhabitants. 

With regard to domestic violence crimes, there was a reduction in the upward trend that had been registered; however, there was an increase of about 40 cases, compared to 2008, which represents an increase of 3.4%. In the case of the Autonomous Region of Madeira there was an increase of 8.4% while the national average reached 10%.

For André Bradford, the figures under analysis are never completely satisfactory because they are crime records. Although the upward trend of domestic violence crimes has reduced, the number of reported cases has slightly increased. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasise, considered the Regional Secretary, that after a two-year increase, the Azores have entered into a phase of decline concerning the number of crime reports which, therefore, contradicts some sensationalist speeches. For that reason, the Azoreans have no reasons to feel less safe.

Stressing the need to reinforce the human and equipment resources of the security forces in the Azores, the Regional Secretary of the Presidency stated that the Government is satisfied with the results of the annual Internal Affairs report which has been made public.