Public Security Ministry: 2/3 of violent crimes go unreported

Israel's violent crime rate is close to the average for OECD countries; some 27% of citizens are victims of violent crimes.

By BEN HARTMAN
Handcuffs arrest police crime illustrative 390 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Handcuffs arrest police crime illustrative 390
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
There are well over a half a million violent crimes per year in Israel, and only a third of them are reported, according to a report published on Monday by the Public Security Ministry.
According to the report, the first of its kind conducted by the ministry on violence in Israel, from 2003-2010 there was an average of 620,000 violent crimes per year, with only 210,000 of them – 34 percent – reported to authorities.
In addition, some 27% of citizens are victims of violent crimes.
The report states that from 2003-2010 the number of violent crimes dropped on average by 1.2% per year, but that the amount of serious violent crimes is higher.
The report also found that from 2011 to 2012 there was a 14% increase in robberies, which make up 43% of all violent crimes.
The report stated that in the majority of these cases the victim and the perpetrator were of the same religion.
The report found that Israel’s violent crime rate is close to the average for OECD countries, as well as the murder rate. Israel stands at 2.4 murders per 100,000 people, while the OECD’s average is 2.1.
However, The report stated that the sexual assault rate in Israel is 10% higher than the OECD average.
The release of the report came a day before the ministry was set to begin events to mark the Week To Prevent Violence, which will begin with the first-ever personal security conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday.