Statistics listing crime and traffic offences for 2011 indicate a 60% decline in aggravated burglaries from 2010, but a doubling of grievous bodily harm assaults, attempted robbery and discharge of firearms.

The mixed picture also indicates six murders last year, one less than 2010, although most of the half-dozen killings occurred in one gruesome nine-day spate as West Bay gangs engaged in a series of tit-for-tat shootings starting on 13 September.

Police have charged two men in connection with those kliilings, which resulted in a four-week visit by 20 detectives from northern UK to help stem the tide.

At the same time, wounding rose 36%, attempted murder 25%, damage to property 21.5% and attempted burglary by 13.5%.

Police reported a 2011 jump of 43% in fatal traffic accidents from 2010, a 51% decline in speeding convictions and a whopping 71% drop in tickets for failing to wear seat belts and DUI arrests dropped 13%, while overall traffic offences fell by half.

Most other categories of crime fell: rape by more than a 35% and attempted rape by 33%. Threatening violence fell 16.8%, while actual bodily harm, classified as domestic violence, declined 16.5%.