TA Police: 45% jump in African migrant suspects

Tel Aviv police report significant rise in the number of criminal cases opened against Sudanese, Eritreans.

By BEN HARTMAN
African migrant in south Tel Aviv 370 (photo credit: Baz Ratner/Reuters)
African migrant in south Tel Aviv 370
(photo credit: Baz Ratner/Reuters)
There was a 53.2 percent increase in the number of Sudanese and Eritreans suspected of crimes in 2012, and a 45% increase in criminal cases opened against members of this community, according to figures presented by the Tel Aviv District Police on Wednesday.
The figures state that there were 1,048 Sudanese and Eritreans named as suspects in crimes in 2012, as opposed to 684 in 2011, and 1,092 criminal cases opened against them in 2012 as opposed to 2011. The report does not include specific categories for other foreigners.
The district, home to the majority of the more than 60,000 African migrants in Israel, released the figures as part of their annual statistical round-up on crime in the district.
The figures on African migrants were the most glaring on the list, which included a 65% rise in the number of arrests of juveniles for robbery, to 170 from 103 in 2011.
The figures showed a total of 76,371 criminal cases opened in 2012, a drop of 1.6% over the 77,603 in 2011.
Other drops included a 10.5% reduction in vehicle break-ins, and a 16.4% drop in arrests for drug possession.
The report also says that there were 16 murders solved in 2012, as opposed to 19 in 2011.
The district is responsible not only for the city of Tel Aviv but also for Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Bat Yam, Holon, Bnei Brak, Herzliya and other cities in the Tel Aviv area.