Recorded crime in Spain rose by 7.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, according to the Ministry of the Interior's quarterly crime report.
The main figures
- Homicides: 84, up from 74 (+13.5%).
- Sexual offences: more than 3,000 reports (+16.9%).
- Kidnappings: 34, up from 13.
Regional differences
Crime grew most in Murcia (+14.5%), followed by La Rioja (+13.8%), the Valencian Community (+12.2%) and Catalonia (+11.3%). Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and Extremadura each saw increases of around 10%.
The Community of Madrid recorded 103,456 crimes between January and March, an increase of 1.8%. Attempted murders and intentional homicides grew the most there, by 29.2%.
Crime fell in Galicia (-8.3%), Cantabria (-1.7%), Castilla y León (-0.7%) and Ceuta (-9.3%).
What this means for inmates and families
More recorded crime usually means more arrests, busier courts and fuller prisons. For people arrested in Spain, and especially for foreigners, this can mean longer waits for hearings and more time in pre-trial detention.
If someone close to you has been arrested, the first days are the most important:
- Find out where they are held and which court has the case.
- Make sure they have a lawyer they trust, not only the duty lawyer if you are unsure.
- Keep all documents and letters, and write down dates.
We help families with exactly this. Contact us.
Source: El Español