The Public Order and Internal Security Situation in the Regions of the Czech Republic in 1999

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South Moravia

Area  (km2):
Population:
Unemployment rate:
Density:

15,028
2,051,389
10.59
137


Development of crime in 1997 - 1999
Kind of crime 1997 1998 1999
  Crime Clr. up Det. rate (%) Crime Clr. up Det. rate (%) Crime Clr. up Det. rate (%)
Total crime 54,930 25,804 47.0 56,632 27,321 48.2 56,185 27,692 49.3
Development changes 1,089 +1,477 +1.8 +1,702 +1,517 +1.3 -447 +371 +1.0
Violent crimes 2,995 2,478 82.7 3,022 2,603 86.1 3,140 2,655 84.6
Murders 42 37 88.1 42 42 100.0 33 33 100.0
Robberies 585 272 46.5 460 220 47.8 529 231 43.7
Moral crimes 266 243 91.4 281 260 92.5 266 247 92.9
Rape 83 67 80.7 89 69 77.5 29 46 78.0
Crimes against property 39.965 11,891 29.8 40,515 12,046 29.7 39,491 11,944 30.2
Total burglaries 11.711 3,773 32.2 11,412 3,249 28.5 10,483 3,006 28.7
Burglaries to flats 1,491 5,220 34.9 1,614 435 27.0 1,583 502 31.7
Burglaries to weekend houses 2,755 1,119 40.6 2,490 1,094 43.9 2,130 762 35.8
Common thefts 24.190 5,819 24.1 24,658 6,180 25.1 23,955 5,883 24.6
Pickpockets 1,184 246 20.8 1,118 319 28.5 1,002 223 22.3
Car thefts 4,183 691 16.5 3,910 667 17.1 3,137 595 19.0
Thefts from cars 7,708 1,351 17.5 8,162 1,421 17.4 8,819 1,398 15.9
Bicycle thefts 3,134 542 17.3 3,142 595 18.9 2,702 501 18.5
Economic crimes 4,642 4,464 96.2 5,074 4,927 97.1 5,531 5,342 96.6
Embezzlement 759 748 98.6 989 982 99.3 799 793 99.2
Fraud 2,353 2,304 97.9 1,750 1,698 97.0 1,985 1,972 99.3

Crime in South Moravia in 1999
Total crime 56,185 (-0.8 %)
Crime per 10,000 inhabitants 274  
Number of crimes cleared up 27,692 (+1.4 %)
Average detection rate (%) 49.3 % (+1.1 %)

Crime in districts
The highest number of crimes Brno 20,674
  Zlín 4,284
The highest number of crimes /10,000 inhabitants Brno 537
  Břeclav 270
The lowest number of crimes Vyškov 1,624
  Blansko 1,788
The highest increase in crimes (%) Prostějov +12.2 %
  Zlín + 8.9 %
The highest decrease in crimes (%) Uherské Hradiště -14.2 %
  Vyškov -3.6 %

In 1999 the police of South Moravia detected a total number of 56,185 crimes which shows for a moderate decline (-447 crimes) in comparison with 1998. In terms of crimes committed in individual regions there was a decrease in the Brno-město (-580 crimes), Uherské Hradiště (-456 crimes), Žďár nad Sázavou (-106 crimes), Břeclav (-63 crimes), Vyškov (-60 crimes), Hodonín (-43 crimes), Jihlava (-40 crimes), and Třebíč (-24 crimes) districts. Considering the ratio of the number of crimes per 10,000 inhabitants, the Brno-město (539 crimes) and Břeclav (270 crimes) districts rank first. The highest increase in crimes was recorded in the Zlín (+350 crimes) and Prostějov (+304 crimes) districts. In comparison with 1998, the detection rate increased from 48.2% to 49.3%, while the highest detection rate was reached in the Znojmo (67.2%), Hodonín (63.2%), and Jihlava (61.3%) districts.

Criminal Factors in the Region (in the view of the Czech Police of South Bohemia)

The criminal factors affecting the security situation development in the region are as follows: the increasing unemployment rate and the relating economic situation of the inhabitants, the high concentration of Roma population, the establishment of extremist groups, the illegal as well as long-term legal residence of foreigners, the low legal conscience of citizens, and the legislative gaps in the economic area.

Misdemeanours

In 1999, there was an increase in the number of misdemeanours ascertained and misdemeanours solved by fines. The structure of misdemeanours remained more or less unchanged. Only two misdemeanours were ascertained in the field of alcohol and drug addiction (in 1998 there were 56 such misdemeanours).

  1998 1999
Total alcohol
fine / CZK
5,155 (56 drugs)
CZK 1,041/433,650
4,603 (3 drugs)
CZK 785/418,800
Total public order
fine / CZK
31.597
CZK 21.080/4.014.470
39,790
CZK 29,392/4,626,680
Total property
fine / CZK
20,083
CZK 3,033/1,084,210
19,847
CZK 3,111/1,076,060
Total road transport
fine / CZK
144,041
CZK 120,235/30,885,638
193,414
CZK 149,122/37,134,689
Total other
fine / CZK
2,368
CZK 1,205/249,020
2,496
CZK 1,077/231,000
T O T A L
203,244
CZK 146,594/36,666,988
260,150
CZK 183,487/43,487,229
Crime Offenders

A high proportion of crimes are committed by repeat offenders (4,252 crimes, which accounts for 21.3% of the total number of crime offenders). This group is getting continually ”more qualified”. Brutal and aggressive behaviour is increasing, and the offenders have international contacts, which is apparent in the filed of car thefts.

In 1999, foreigners accounted for 3.3% of the number of offenders ascertained (They committed a total of 1,683 crimes). Foreigners’ proportion in violent crimes is 4.9%, out of which extortion reached 5.1% and robberies 5.5%.

Migration

In 1999, the number of crimes ascertained by immigration and border police departments decreased to 245 (-59). The most frequent crimes remain the crimes pursuant to Sec. 171/1 of the Criminal Code – frustrating execution of an official decision and Sec. 176/1 of the Criminal Code – forging and altering a public document. Among the offenders of those crimes, the citizens of the former Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Rumania and former Yugoslavia remain.

A special issue is the illegal crossing of the national border (112 crimes, charges were lodged in 107 cases) and especially the illegal conveyance pursuant to Sec.171a of the Criminal Code. In 1999, 44 case of illegal conveyance were ascertained (-23) and charges were lodged against 77 persons (-38).

The decline in crimes of illegal conveyance in comparison with 1998 can be attributed to the relative peace at the eastern national borders at the beginning of 1999 (a decline of illegal crossings of the national border by citizens of Yugoslavia from Kosovo region) The assistants of illegal crossings do not concentrate only at the border with Slovakia but operate also at the border with Austria. Offenders of such crimes are not only citizens of the Czech republic and Slovak Republic, but also citizens of former Yugoslavia, Rumania, etc.

In 1999, border police departments at the national borders investigated 4,014 persons (+290) for illegal crossing of the national border. The year 1999 is typical with the shift of pressure from the ester border (with Slovakia) to the south border (with Austria) 1,916 persons were apprehended at the border with the Slovak Republic, while at the border with Austria this number reached 2,098 persons.

This situation is caused by the fact that the relevant Austrian police departments transfer the numerous groups of persons apprehended illegally back to the Czech Republic after their attempt to cross the border from the Czech Republic to Austria. This applies mainly to the citizens of Rumania who entered the Czech Republic legally but leave our country illegally by crossing the border outside the official border crossing. With regards to state security for which these people represent a certain risk it would be reasonable to use administrative deportation since there is no guarantee that those people would leave the territory of the Czech Republic. As the fugitives enter our country legally, it is impossible to transfer them to the country from which they crossed the border to the Czech Republic; the deportation is then carried out in the form of police escorts to the country of origin, i.e. across the Slovak Republic and Hungary to Rumania.

In the course of 1999 the Police Residence Inspection Departments and police escort departments from Brno performed 32 (+21) escorts by police cars to Rumania and escorted a total number of 1,228 (+665) persons. The majority of them were economic fugitives and their administrative deportation may become a criminal factor affecting the internal security of the country. According to experiences to date (every year’s growth) it is supposed that the similar situation will continue in the future. In terms of nationalities the most frequent fugitives were citizens of Rumania, Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia, China, India, Sri Lanka and other countries.

Crimes of Extremist Nature

In 1999, the police investigated 54 crimes with a racial subtext (+8 crimes) and ascertained 73 offenders (+22).

As in 1998, no mass manifestation of extremist groups that would have disturbed the public peace was registered in South Moravia in 1999.

However, in the course of 1999, racially motivated crimes appeared. Those were mainly defamation of a nation, race or conviction, incitement of national and racial hatred ending with physical attacks that were most often against individuals with a different skin colour.

The police registered activities of skinhead movement supporters in front of school buildings with the aim of attracting young people and increasing their membership base. Such activities were prevented by the intervention of school managements in co-operation with the police.

Criminal Activities by Juveniles

The number of juvenile offenders is decreasing (in 1997: 1,814 persons, in 1998: 1,749 persons, in 1999: 1,483 persons), on the other hand number of children offenders is increasing (in 1997: 1,286 persons, in 1998: 1,286 persons, in 1999: 1,325 persons).

The proportion of youth in crimes cleared up is 5.2%. This is the lowest this indicator has been during the period of 1990 – 1999 and it has shown a downward trend since 1996. On the other hand, the low age of offenders should be considered as a negative element and the same applies to the increasing proportion of youth in violent crimes.

The proportion of juveniles in crimes against property has decreased (in 1998 3,466 crimes, in 1999 3,280 crimes i.e. –186 crimes). The number of children offenders has increased. These facts support the decreasing of the age limit for criminal liability.

As in the previous period, crimes against property form the largest proportion of crimes committed by youth. They are mainly burglaries to flats, car thefts and thefts from cars. Those crimes are followed by violent crimes, in particular injuries to health.

Crimes Against Property

In 1999, crimes against property saw a decline of 1,024 crimes (the total number of such crimes was 39,491) i.e. by 2,5%, while the detection rate increased by 0.5% and reached 30.2%. The number of common theft and burglaries decreased; other crimes against property increased.

As for the scope, thefts from cars and car thefts are the most frequent crimes against property in the city of Brno. In other districts the most frequent crimes are burglaries to recreational facilities, flats, shops, restaurants and business premises (mainly to the offices of the enterprises, etc.). A high number of bicycle thefts is typical for some districts (mainly for the Prostějov district).

In 1999, there was a considerable growth in the number of thefts from vaults, which rose by 34 cases (totally 55 crimes, 19 cases were cleared up). There were cases where offenders used plastic explosives to open a vault.

Of the total number of stolen cars, 30% should be assigned to leasing and insurance frauds. Attention should be paid to new forms of crimes such as when a new car is legally exported abroad and a stolen car is legalised by using the documents of the car exported.

Economic Crimes

5,531 economic crimes (+457 crimes) were ascertained in South Moravia in 1999, 5,342 of them were cleared up (+415 crimes) with the detection rate of 96.6% (-0.5%).

The damages cased by economic crimes increased markedly and exceeded a total amount of CZK 3 billion, which is the highest amount so far.

Violent Crimes

A moderate increase of 118 violent crimes (altogether 3,140 crimes) was recorded. 2,655 of them were cleared up (+52 crimes) i.e. 84.6%. A quite considerable growth (+62 crimes) was recorded in the Hodonín district.

The status and structure of violent crimes remain almost unchanged. Only the number of robberies increased markedly (+69 crimes, the total number of 529 crimes).

33 murders and homicidal attempts were recorded (20 murders, 13 attempts). All cases were cleared up. As for offenders, the decline of foreign offenders is apparent (in 1998 – 11 case, in 1999 – 2 cases).

The robberies of truck drivers on the highway D1 and D2 have continued. Offenders are interested mainly in trucks and the transported goods.

Among the most serious cases were robberies of post offices, Czech Savings Bank branches and petrol stations. In a majority of cases, offenders used weapons; there was also a serious case of cruelty, and one case of kidnapping the daughter of an entrepreneur (hostage taking).

Moral Crimes

There was a moderate decline in moral crimes by 15 crimes (a total number of 266 crimes was ascertained). 247 crimes were cleared up which accounts for 92.9% (+0.33%).

Moral crimes that have not been a long-term problem for the districts in terms of the number of cases or the detection rate showed a marked decline: in rapes (-30 cases, the total number of rapes ascertained -59, 46 cases were cleared up).

In South Bohemia it is possible to meet with prostitution in the streets of large cities, on the resting places of highways, in night and erotic clubs, which are situated in large cities and their nearest environs, but they are also in the border districts near the main border roads.

Road Safety

The number of traffic accidents in 1999 was 29,997 which represents an increase in comparison with 1998 by 1,706 traffic accidents (+6.0%). The absolutely highest traffic accident rate was recorded in the city of Brno – 10,508 accidents, followed by the Zlín (2,467) and Brno – venkov (2,133) districts. The lowest number of traffic accidents was registered in the Vyškov (1,010), Břeclav (1,054), and Hodonín (1,081) districts. In terms of the highest increase in traffic accidents the city of Brno occupies the first rank (+327), followed by Znojmo (+234), Prostějov (+174), and Vyškov (+146). A decline was recorded only in the Blansko district – by 60 traffic accidents.

Of the total number of traffic accidents, 60.9% were handled as small traffic accidents and were solved on the spot by a fine. Drivers with driving experience less than 3 years form the most risky group involved in traffic accidents.

134,256 misdemeanours of motor vehicle drivers, which is 14.200 more than in 1998, were solved on the spot. The amount of fines reached CZK 58,799,300 (+CZK 4,333,200). 1,310 drivers where caught while driving under the influence of alcohol (-245). 6,636 (+2,719) other road crimes were also solved on the spot. For other than alcohol reasons the police retained 1,286 driving licence (-212) and 20,002 Vehicle Registration Documents (-1,896).

All kinds of road users were involved in traffic accidents, however drivers with less driving experience cased most of them.

South Moravia – crime development in 1998 and 1999 and the change of development in percentage
  1998 1999 +/- change in %
Total crime ascertained 56,632 56,185 -0.8
Crimes cleared up 27,321 27,692 1.4
which accounts for (%) 48.2 49.3 -
Total damage ascertained (in thousands of CZK) 3,542,964 5,134,919 44.9
Secured damage (in thousands of CZK) 112,395 36,893 -67.2
Common crimes 47,167 46,154 -2.1
Crimes cleared up 18.160 18,008 -0.8
which accounts for (%) 38.5 39.0 -
Violent crimes 3,022 3,140 3.9
Crimes cleared up 2,603 2,655 2.0
which accounts for (%) 86.1 84.6 -
Of which: Robberies 460 529 15.0
                   Murders 42 33 -21.4
                   Intentional injury to health 852 801 -6.0
                   Dangerous threats 405 504 24.4
                   Extortion 396 395 -0.3
Moral crime 281 266 -5.3
Crimes cleared up 260 247 -5.0
which accounts for (%) 92.5 92.9 -
Of which: Rape 89 59 -33.7
                   Procurement (pandering) 3 11 266.7
Crimes against property 40,515 39,491 -2.5
Crimes cleared up 12,046 11,944 -0.8
which accounts for (%) 29.7 30.2 -
Burglaries 11,412 10,483 -8.1
Crimes cleared up 3,249 3,006 -7.5
which accounts for (%) 28.5 28.7 -
Of which: to shops 958 991 3.4
                   to flats 1,614 1,583 -1.9
                   to weekend houses 2,490 2,130 -14.5
Common thefts 24,658 23,955 -2.9
Crimes cleared up 6,180 5,883 -4.8
which accounts for (%) 25.1 24.6 -
Of which: car theft 3,910 3,137 -19.8
                   thefts from cars 8,162 8,819 8.0
                   bicycles 3,142 2,702 -14.0
                   pickpockets 1,118 1,002 -10.4
Frauds 1,560 2,024 29.7
Other crime      
Rowdyism 705 620 -12.1
Unauthorised production and possession of psychotropic substances and poisons 240 422 75.8
Spreading drug addiction 136 113 -16.9
Frustrating execution of an official decision 1,380 1,312 -4.9
Economic crime 5,074 5,531 9.0
Crimes cleared up 4,927 5,342 8.4
which accounts for (%) 97.1 96.6 -
Of which: Curtailment of taxes 183 203 10.9
                   Frauds 1,750 1,985 13.4
                   Embezzlement 989 799 -19.2
                   Infringements of rights relating to trademarks 290 379 30.7
                   Infringement of copyright 611 537 -12.1

South Moravia – crime development in individual South Moravia districts in 1998 – 1999
  1998 1999 Change
District Ascer. Clr. up Crime/
10 th. inh.
Det. rate % Ascer. Clr. up Crime/
10 th. inh.
Det. rate % Ascer. (%) Clr. up (%) Det. rat (%)
Blansko 1,771 1,076 164 60.8 1,788 1,077 166 60.2 1.0 0.1 -0.5
Brno 21,254 7,687 551 36.2 20,674 7,647 537 37.0 -2.7 -0.5 0.8
Brno - venkov 3,943 1,661 250 42.1 4,072 1,781 257 43.7 3.3 7.2 1.6
Břeclav 3,433 1,934 275 53.4 3,370 1,867 270 55.4 1.8 1.8 2.0
Zlín 3,934 2,061 200 52.4 4,284 2,293 265 53.5 8.9 11.3 1.1
Hodonín 3,285 2,016 203 61.4 3,242 2,049 297 63.2 -1.3 1.6 1.8
Jihlava 2,298 1,395 211 60.7 2,258 1,385 208 61.3 -1.7 -0.7 0.6
Kroměříž 2,406 1,332 221 554 2,477 1,370 225 55.3 3.0 2.9 -0.1
Prostějov 2,495 1,473 226 59.0 2,799 1,492 238 53.3 12.2 1.3 -5.7
Třebíč 2,285 1,318 194 57.7 2,261 1,288 155 57.0 -1.1 -2.3 -0.7
Uh. Hradiště 3,207 1,634 220 51.0 2,751 1,559 317 56.7 -14.2 -4.6 5.7
Vyškov 1,684 985 194 58.5 1,624 940 83 57.9 -3.6 -4.6 -0.6
Znojmo 3,323 1,444 195 64.7 2,286 1,536 200 67.2 2.4 6.4 2.5
Žďár n. S. 2,405 1,405 191 58.4 2,299 1,408 183 61.2 -4.4 0.2 2.8
Total 56,632 27,321 276 48.2 56,185 27,692 274 49.3 -0.8 1.4 1.0


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