The delegate blames the increase in sexual crimes for the rise in complaints and the increase in drug offenses in multiple police operations
The government delegate of Madrid, Francisco Martín, emphasized on Monday that the crime rate in the community «remains low, reinforcing that the region is safe,» as the data shows the balance of crime in the fourth quarter of the year to be 2024.
According to data from the Ministry of Interior, there is a 2.9% decrease in total crime in the region in 2024. Therefore, conventional crime and cybercrime increased by 6.2 after years of continuous increase.
In terms of specific types of criminal offenses, there is a significant decrease in high-impact crimes in the media in 2024 that generate a greater sense of insecurity among the population. Specifically, there is a significant reduction in the number of homicides and malicious crimes committed, from 33 to 23; Additionally, a decrease in kidnappings: from 19 to 16.
Regarding robberies with violence or intimidation, there was a 6.1-point reduction and there is also a decrease in theft, with an 8.5-point decrease. However, the number of injuries and problematic disputes increased by 5.1%.
In 2024, complaints of crimes against sexual freedom in the community of Madrid followed a similar trend to the national total, registering an upward trend, interrupted in 2020 by the Pandemic. In this sense, in 2024 there were 5.6% more events.
From the detailed analysis of the known facts during this period, it should be noted that the highest number of reported crimes of this type is non-penetrative penetration, which has increased by 6.5 points and accounts for over 77% of total crimes against sexual freedom reported, while penetrative sexual assault represents 23% of the total events recorded.
The majority of cases occur within homes, not in recreational spaces, and there is a certain type of connection between the victim and the offender, as explained by the government delegate, indicating that the increasing complaints against sexual freedom may be influenced by a gradual decrease in the «hidden figure,» the result of increased awareness and confidence.
Crimes against property, the most abundant
Crimes against property, the most abundant, have seen a significant decrease. Robbery with violence and intimidation decreased by 6.1%, to 11,282; House burglaries decreased by 5.8%, to 9,795; and robberies of units and other facilities amounted to 5,221 to 4,687 in 2024.
Robberies decreased in 2024 by 8.5%, to 117,462; While vehicle thefts increased by 1% and are at 6,987, following the trend of previous balances.
On the other hand, the number of drug-related offenses increased significantly by 13.4% to 3,842 offenses. And the rest of the offenses related to conventional crimes increased by 3.2%, totaling 166,202.
Regarding cybercrime, there were 74,007 offenses last year, compared to 78,881 during the same period the previous year. These include a 7.9% decrease in computer fraud, with a total of 65,892 cases reported. However, other cybercrimes increased by 10.5%.
Effectiveness and police
In 2024, the clearance rate for crimes is 33.8%, the highest percentage in the last 10 years. Additionally, the number of prisoners per 1,000 crimes is at a historic high, at 246.
«We have improved modernized infrastructure and police equipment. We managed to reverse the process of reducing the workforce suffered in previous years, after cuts in an essential public service that led to unsustainable minimal training, favoring the progress of the entire workforce,» said Martín.
Additionally, the delegation noted that in 2024, the historic maximum of members of the National Police and the Civil Guard in the community of Madrid was reached. At this moment, there are nearly 21,000 troops with an increase in the number of agents per thousand inhabitants, which is at 3 years.
Since 2017, there has been a 10.2% increase in the total number of troops, emphasizing growth, with 14% of the National Police force trained in the community of Madrid.
«The commitment of the Government of Spain to the presence of the Civil Guard in our territory is absolute. This fact was materialized with the incorporation of 532 civil guards in practice and beneficial facilities in our community, which will further contribute to their presence in their demarcation areas,» said Martín.
