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by pltm
(PLTM) - There has been a steady decrease in the number of cases filed for prosecution in the Magistrate’s Court from 2014, but an increase in the number of juveniles facing complaints for various offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Office in its 2015 report, which was made public last week, explained that in 2012, there were 627 complaints filed, while in 2013, the number increased to 817. However, the number of complaints fell in 2014 to 607 and continued to decline in 2015 to 396. According to the report, over the past four years a total of 2,447 new matters were filed before the Magistrate’s Court for prosecution. Also, in relation to case files received by the DPP’s office, in 2015, 403 case files from various agencies for advice and prosecution were submitted. This was ten more than in 2014 when there were 393. Comparatively, in 2013 there were 541 case files submitted and 627 in 2012. Meanwhile, the report indicated that there were 33 files received with juveniles’ conflict with the law. There were 29 juveniles charged in 2015. This generated 91 complaints for diverse offences, the most prevalent being burglary, taking conveyance without authority and common assault. Offences against property such as theft, burglary and taking conveyance were predominant offences from 2012 to 2015 for juvenile offenders. Statistically, in 2013 there were 16 juveniles charged with 20 complaints being filed. However, the numbers increased dramatically for 41 juveniles being charged in 2014, generating 75 complaints. According to the report, in 2015, the number of juveniles charged decreased by 12 to 29, but the number of complaints increased from 75 to 91.
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