The Interior Ministry has detailed crime figures across Spain for the first half of the year, showing how reported crime is continuing to decline.
Overall, crime has reduced by 1.9% compared to the first six months of 2014. Intentional homicide and murder fell by 26.5%, robbery with violence and intimidation fell by 12.1%, burglary fell by 12%, violent crime fell by 10.6% and robberies fell by 9.9%.
In addition, there were also declines in other crimes including theft of motor vehicles which fell by 3.8%, drug trafficking by 3.4%, thefts by 1.3% and damage by 1%.
Unfortunately, on a local level the figures were not quite so positive. In Torrevieja, intentional homicide and murder increased by 50%, burglary increased by 27% and robberies by 9%. There was a 55% decrease in drug trafficking, with violence, robbery and theft of motor vehicles all falling slightly.
In Orihuela, intentional killings increased by 100%, but it should be noted that the figure was zero previously, and so the single tragic death is what caused that spike. Robbery with violence also increased by 2%, but all other categories saw a decline, including a 69% drop in drug trafficking, a 26% drop in theft of motor vehicles and a 24% decline in burglaries.
Provincially, across Alicante, all crime fell with the exception of intentional killing which increased by 142%, whereas at a regional level it was a similar picture, all crime has fallen with the exception of intentional killing which increased by 37%.
The national crime rate remains at 44.3 crimes and offences per thousand inhabitants, maintaining Spain´s position as one of the safest countries in Europe.