A policeman walks in Beirut. (Credit: Reuters)
BEIRUT — Statistics show a surge in suicide and murder rates and decline in theft crimes in the first seven months of 2022 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Beirut-based research center Information International.
Here’s what we know:
• The study, which is based on reports from the General-Directorate of the Internal Security Forces and was published Wednesday, reported an 18.3 percent increase in the number of people murdered and a 7.8 percent increase in the suicide rate over the last seven months compared with the same period of 2021.
• On the other hand, theft incidents decreased over the period — car thefts were down by 6.3 percent and theft crimes were down by 6.5 percent.
• Last year’s data showed dramatic surges in crime and theft in Lebanon amid a deepening economic and financial turmoil. In 2021, Information International reported that the number of stolen cars increased by 212 percent, theft crimes rose by 266 percent and murders were up by 101 percent in comparison to the first 10 months of 2019 — before the economic crisis became truly apparent.
• Meanwhile, this year’s study added that murder cases were up at least 68 percent and suicide cases increased by at least 42 percent in July 2022, compared to July 2021. However, thefts and car thefts decreased by 21 percent and 40 percent, respectively in July compared to the same period last year.