With regard to the crimes committed in the country, are we in a better or worse situation today than we were in the last year of the Enrique Peña Nieto government?
It all depends on the different crimes that have been reported in the country from 2018 to 2021 according to the data released each month by the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System.
For example, in 2018 there were 112,971 federal crimes and in 2021 the number was 77,637 or 31.3% less.
Moreover, the number of federal crimes has decreased each year of the current administration: 112,971 in 2018; 98,396 in 2019; 78,482 in 2020, and 77,637 in 2021.
However, from 2020 to 2021 the number only decreased 1.1%, after in the previous two years it decreased 12.9% from 2018 to 2019 and 20.2% from 2019 to 2020. The Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, must explain the reasons for it.
Regarding the total crimes of the common jurisdiction, in 2018 one million 924,648 were reported while in 2021 the number was two million 44,122, 6.2% more.
By year, the total was: two million 71,264 in 2019, one million 841,188 in 2020 and two million 44,122 in 2021, which means that, compared to the previous year, it increased 7.6% in 2019, decreased 11.1% in 2020 and rose 11% in 2021. The decline in 2020 was due to the shutdown of the economy and the confinement at home of millions of people for several months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
By type of crime, we have that, in relative numbers, some of those that decreased from 2018 to 2021 were: intentional homicide (-2.9%), kidnapping in all its forms (-53%), child trafficking (-27.5% ), home robbery (-26.8%), four-wheel vehicle theft (-39.2%), carrier robbery (-29.1%), passer-by robbery on public roads (-22.4%), robbery in collective public transport (-31.3%) and business robbery (-18.5%).
Some crimes that increased, in relative numbers, were: femicide (8.4%), manslaughter in a traffic accident (12.8%), intentional injuries (7.1%), kidnapping (5.9%), sexual abuse (47.3%), sexual harassment ( 161.5%), sexual harassment (63.3%), simple rape (23.1%), equated rape (101.7%), theft of auto parts (12.6%), robbery of a passer-by in a space open to the public (87.8%), robbery in public transport individual (20%), theft in individual transport (50.1%), theft of machinery (163.4%), theft of cables, tubes and other objects destined for public services (369%), fraud (51%), abuse of trust ( 32.1%), extortion (37.2%), total crimes against the family (38%), family violence (40.9%), gender violence in all its forms other than family violence (91.5%), corruption of minors (41.5 %), human trafficking (61.3%), drug dealing (40.4%), threats (33.5%) and electoral crimes (105.44%).
Based on these data, are we in a better or worse situation today than we were in 2018?
Yes and no, depending on each crime. Although intentional homicide, kidnapping and various robberies that affect our heritage have decreased, femicides, sexual crimes, robbery on public roads, family and gender violence and human trafficking have increased.
There is progress, but there is still a long way to go before we feel safe. And let’s not forget that nine out of 10 crimes go unreported.
Facebook: Eduardo J Ruiz-Healy
Instagram: ruizhealy
Journalist and producer
guest column
Opinionist, columnist, lecturer, media trainer, 35 years of experience in the media, microentrepreneur.