**NICOSIA** – For the third consecutive year, Cyprus is witnessing a concerning escalation in reported serious criminal activity, with statistics for 2024 revealing a sustained upward trajectory. Official data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) indicates a tangible increase in both reported offences and actual cases, painting a picture of a society increasingly affected by criminal behaviour. This burgeoning trend has led to a greater number of victims, both individuals and legal entities, and an alarming surge in the participation of minors in criminal acts.
The latest figures underscore the gravity of the situation. In 2024, law enforcement agencies registered 5,942 reports of serious offences, with 5,900 of these subsequently classified as actual cases. This represents a notable jump from the 5,653 reported offences and 5,630 actual cases recorded in the preceding year, 2023. The cumulative effect of these increases means that, on average, approximately sixteen serious criminal incidents are occurring daily across the island. The per capita rate of serious crime also reflects this escalating trend, with the index per 100,000 inhabitants climbing to 605 in 2024, up from 588 in 2023 and 568 in 2022.
Examining the breakdown of offence types provides further insight into the nature of this criminal surge. Crimes targeting property remain the most prevalent category, accounting for 31.8% of all reported serious offences in 2024. Offences against individuals constitute the second largest segment, making up 26.8% of the total. A significant proportion, 17.7%, involves acts that harm the public at large, while other categories such as forgery and counterfeiting, malicious damage to property, and offences against public order represent smaller but still substantial percentages.
The impact on the populace is equally concerning. The 5,900 actual serious crime cases in 2024 resulted in a total of 6,651 recorded victims. This figure, comprising 5,128 individuals and 1,523 legal entities, signifies a substantial 20% increase in victimisation compared to the 5,531 victims reported in 2023. For natural persons, crimes against individuals were the most common form of victimisation, affecting 39.8% of individuals. Legal entities, conversely, were most frequently victims of offences that broadly impacted public welfare, representing 53.4% of corporate victimisation.
Perhaps one of the most disquieting trends is the escalating involvement of young people in criminal activities. The number of minors implicated in offences saw a significant spike of 29% in 2024, with 774 juveniles recorded as offenders, up from 602 in the previous year. Of these, 307 were specifically involved in serious criminal acts. While girls constituted a smaller proportion of juvenile offenders at 4.4%, their presence, alongside that of boys, highlights a growing societal challenge that requires urgent attention. The data also indicates a slight but persistent rise in the proportion of women among those prosecuted, even though their overall participation in serious crime remains comparatively lower than that of men.
While the precise drivers behind this multi-year escalation in serious crime remain underexplored in the initial reports, the consistent upward trend necessitates a comprehensive examination by authorities. The decrease in court prosecutions by 12.5% to 62,066 in 2024, down from 70,941 in 2023, raises questions about case processing and the overall effectiveness of the justice system in addressing the rising tide of criminality. As Cyprus navigates this challenging period, understanding the root causes and implementing robust preventative and responsive strategies will be paramount to ensuring public safety and restoring a sense of security.