Crime in Latvia

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A Latvian State Police precinct in Gulbene Gulbene politseimaja.JPG
A Latvian State Police precinct in Gulbene

Crime in Latvia is relatively low, by global standards, especially compared to previous years, when it was named the "crime capital of Europe" by Forbes [1] in 2008. The homicide rate in Latvia was 4.9 per 100,000 people in 2020, [2] a sharp drop from 10 cases per 100,000 people in 2000, [3] and has been steadily decreasing. [4] Although Latvia'a homicide rate is high by European Union standards, [2] it is below the world average of 6.2 per 100.000 (in 2019). [5] The United States Department of State has assessed Latvia's security rating as "medium", [6] with a moderate crime rate. In recent times, crime has been increasing, particularly due to many Latvians stranded because of the COVID-19 pandemic returning to Latvia and choosing to commit crime. [7] According to Interpol, Latvia is considered an attractive place for regional and organized criminals involved in drug trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, or smuggling. [8] According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, a third of all women in Latvia have suffered some form of sexual violence or rape, while men are subjected to violence outside the family. [9]

Contents

Crime had seen massive increases in Latvia after the restoration of independence after end of the Soviet occupation. [10] The market transition from a planned economy to a free market-economy caused great social uncertainty in Latvia, and the crime rates rose. [11] The Latvian government defines crime as "an action endangering society and entailing criminal punishment whether committed intentionally or through negligence". [12] Crimes in Latvia have also been committed by other nations, like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during their respective occupations of Latvia in 1940 and 1941. [13]

Types of crime

The main types of crime common in Latvia include human trafficking, motor vehicle theft, and corruption. [14] Other crimes are also listed below.

Robbery

The robbery rate in Latvia in 2018 was 27.7 cases per 100,000, a decrease from 108.3 cases per 100,000 people in 2004. [15] Over the two years ranging from 2018-2020, at least 10 warehouses of trading and production have been said to be robbed. [16]

Robbery rate in Latvia per 100,000 people (2003-2015, 2017) [17]
20092010201120122013201420152017
72.0051.0051.0046.0046.0041.0040.0031.00

Homicide

In 2020, a study conducted by Eurostat revealed that the three Baltic states had the highest homicide rates in the European Union in that year, with the homicide rate of Latvia being 4.9 per 10,000 people, followed by Lithuania (3.5) and Estonia (2.8). Latvia also had the highest proportion of women as homicide victims among EU countries (60%, compared to an EU average of 37%). [18] [19]

Drug use

According to Euronews, Latvia, along with Italy and the United Kingdom, have the worst rankings in drug usage. [20] The most common illicit drug used by Latvians is cannabis, [21] [22] used by young adults aged 15–34, and specifically by males. Cocaine and ecstasy are also commonly used by Latvians. Drug trafficking is also common in Latvia. [23]

Originally, in the 1970s and 80s, drugs were produced at home, but from the 1990s onward, organized crime started manufacturing illegally-produced drugs, [24] like LSD, ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamines. However, very few people are willing to take medicine for it.

Corruption

Corruption is considered a serious issue in Latvia. Transparency International gave Latvia 42 out of a rank of 180 in corruption in 2020, [25] an increase by 2 places compared to 2019. [26] The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) is the main anti-corruption agency in Latvia. In a report by Reuters, that former Bank of Latvia Governor Ilmārs Rimšēvičs had been detained in prison for accepting a bribe of 500,000 euro bribe from Latvian bank ABLV. [27] Frequently, people from other countries, like Russia, have money laundering schemes based in Latvia. [28]

Organized crime

Organized crime in Latvia is common, particularly due to Latvia's position in the European continent. [14] Illegal immigration, human trafficking, and corruption are problems that organized crime groups in Latvia take advantage of frequently. As of 2014, 70 organized crime groups operate in Latvia. [29]

Illegal immigration

Illegal immigration is common issue in Latvia. The main origin countries of illegal immigrants are Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova, and from as far as Iraq, Iran, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. [30] Latvia, along with Lithuania and Poland, claims that Belarus has been using illegal immigrants from war-torn countries like Iraq as a way to pressure the European Union into lifting its sanctions on Belarus, and as such has declared a state of emergency along the Belarus–Latvia border. [31]

There were 665 refugees in Latvia in 2019, 237,966 migrants, and 181 new asylum applications in 2019; [32] in 2021, Latvia revealed it had detained 1,000 migrants, mostly from Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries along the Belarus-Latvia border. [33]

Efforts to prevent crime

Police cars in Riga Opel Mokka Riga.jpg
Police cars in Riga

The Latvian State Police (Latvijas Valsts policija, VP) is the official national police agency of Latvia. It is also helped by organizations it is a member of, like Interpol and Europol. Latvia is also signatory to the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon, which ensures that all EU member states allow free right of immigration, asylum, and are expected to work together to combat crime. [34] In September 2014, Latvian police participated in "Operation Archimedes", an effort organized by Europol to hunt down a cargo train sending stolen cars to Tajikistan. [14]

Related Research Articles

The illegal drug trade, drug trafficking, or narcotrafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs through the use of drug prohibition laws. The think tank Global Financial Integrity's Transnational Crime and the Developing World report estimates the size of the global illicit drug market between US$426 and US$652 billion in 2014 alone. With a world GDP of US$78 trillion in the same year, the illegal drug trade may be estimated as nearly 1% of total global trade. Consumption of illegal drugs is widespread globally, and it remains very difficult for local authorities to reduce the rates of drug consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Moldova</span>

Crime in Moldova, as everywhere in the Post-Soviet states, has risen in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union, although in recent years there has been an improvement. Corruption in Moldova, economic and drug-related crimes are the most visible and predictable results of the deteriorating economic situation. Racketeering and the mafia have also risen up during the 1990s and 2000s. Petty crimes, such as pickpocketing and street thefts, are also common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Estonia</span>

Estonia is a relatively safe country, and the risk of being a victim of crime in Estonia is small by international standards. As in other post-Soviet states, crime has increased in the 1990s, but then it has gradually decreased in the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</span> Intergovernmental organization

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division in the United Nations Office at Vienna, adopting the current name in 2002.

Law enforcement in Azerbaijan comes under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, which administers the National Police of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Admitted to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on 30 January 1992, with an OSCE office opening in Baku on 16 November 1999. It is a member of INTERPOL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Brazil</span>

Brazil has one of the highest crime rates in the world, which involves an elevated incidence of violent and non-violent crimes. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Brazil had a homicide rate of 21.26 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021, up from 20.89 per 100,000 inhabitants with 43,073 murders in 2019; however, this was lower than in 2017, when Brazil had a homicide rate of 30.59 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2018, Brazil had one of the highest number of intentional homicides in the world with 57,358. In addition, Brazil rates second in illegal drug trade in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Afghanistan</span>

Crime in Afghanistan is present in various forms, and includes the following: corruption, contract killings or assassinations, bombings, kidnapping, drug trafficking, money laundering, black marketeering, and ordinary crimes such as theft and assault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Russia</span>

Crime in Russia refers to the multivalent issues of organized crime, extensive political and police corruption, and all aspects of criminality at play in Russia. Violent crime in Siberia is much more apparent than in Western Russia.

Crime in the People's Republic of China occurs in various forms. The Chinese government does not release exact unified statistics on crime rates and the rate of criminal offending due to such information being considered politically and socially sensitive. Scarce official statistics released are the subject of much academic debate due to allegations of statistical fabrication, under-reporting and corruption. The illegal drug trade in China is a significant driver of violent crime, including murder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime and violence in Latin America</span>

Crime and violence affect the lives of millions of people in Latin America. Some consider social inequality to be a major contributing factor to levels of violence in Latin America, where the state fails to prevent crime and organized crime takes over State control in areas where the State is unable to assist the society such as in impoverished communities. In the years following the transitions from authoritarianism to democracy, crime and violence have become major problems in Latin America. The region experienced more than 2.5 million murders between 2000 and 2017. Several studies indicated the existence of an epidemic in the region; the Pan American Health Organization called violence in Latin America "the social pandemic of the 20th century." Apart from the direct human cost, the rise in crime and violence has imposed significant social costs and has made much more difficult the processes of economic and social development, democratic consolidation and regional integration in the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Oman</span>

The crime rate in Oman is low compared to other industrialized countries. Incidents of serious crime are rare in the country. Incidents of petty crime are occasionally reported, including burglary and theft of property of foreign tourists. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) describes the law and order situation in Oman as "generally good". Incidence of street crime is low. Violent crime occurs, but is extremely low compared to the rest of the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Slovakia</span>

Slovakia is a Central European country with a history of relatively low crime. While crime became more widespread after the Revolutions of 1989, it remains low when compared to many other post-communist countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Spain</span>

Overall, rates of crime in Spain are relatively low in comparison to other European countries, with the notable exception of robberies. In 2022 it was listed as number two out of 35 states in Europe with regard to the number of police-recorded robberies relative to population size, although in 2020 it had a lower homicide rate than the European Union average.

Crime in Greece is combated by the Hellenic Police and other agencies.

Crime in Denmark is combated by the Danish Police and other agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Hungary</span>

Crime in Hungary is combated by the Hungarian police and other agencies.

The Romanian mafia or Romanian organized crime is the category of organized crime groups whose members are citizens of Romania or living abroad in the Romanian diaspora. In recent years they have expanded their criminal activities in the European Union, reads a Europol report on EU organized crime, being active mostly in Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The Romanian Mafia is composed of several major organized groups, which in turn have wider networks throughout Europe and have even reached as far as North and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in the Philippines</span>

Crime is present in various forms in the Philippines, and remains a serious issue throughout the country. Illegal drug trade, human trafficking, arms trafficking, murder, corruption and domestic violence remain significant concerns.

Organised crime in Indonesia refers to planned crimes in Indonesia that could be perpetrated by either a political party or Indonesian gangs, also referred to as preman. The illegal activities may include corruption, cybercrime, money laundering, violence, felonies, extortion, racketeering and drug trafficking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus–European Union border crisis</span> 2021 migrant crisis on the borders of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia with Belarus

In August 2021, the government of Belarus began coordinating an influx of migrants, mostly from the Middle East and North Africa, to the borders of Lithuania, Poland and Latvia. Although Belarus denied involvement, both the European Union and independent observers viewed it as hybrid warfare undertaken in response to the deterioration in Belarus–European Union relations following the 2020 Belarusian presidential election and the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests. Between August and December 2021, tens of thousands of unauthorized border crossing attempts were recorded, peaking in October. At least 20 migrants died in the following winter due to the actions of Poland. Attempted border crossings fell sharply the following year, but never returned to their pre-crisis levels. In the spring of 2024, numbers began rising again, although they remain well below those seen in the peak of the crisis in 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Archdeacon, Talis Saule (23 July 2008). "Latvia 'Europe's crime capital'". The Baltic Times . Archived from the original on 2008-07-31.
  2. 1 2 "Latvia continues to comfortably lead in one set of statistics that it would certainly prefer not to – homicides". Public Broadcasting of Latvia . June 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Latvia Homicide rate, 1990-2020 - knoema.com". Knoema . Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  4. ↑ "Latvia's crime rate has dropped to all-time low: police chief". Xinhua News Agency . 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Violence Info ― Homicide". World Health Organization . 2022.
  6. ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  7. ↑ Spundiņa, Linda (1 October 2020). "Serious crimes on the rise in Latvia". Public Broadcasting of Latvia . Archived from the original on 5 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Latvia". www.interpol.int. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  9. ↑ "Crime and violence | Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia". www.csb.gov.lv. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  10. ↑ Ceccato, Vânia (2008). "Expressive Crimes in Post‐Socialist States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania". Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention. 9: 2–30. doi:10.1080/14043850701610428. S2CID   129796613 – via Taylor & Francis.
  11. ↑ Haining, Robert; Ceccato, Vânia (4 July 2008). "Short and Medium term Dynamics and their Influence on Acquisitive Crime Rates in the Transition States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania". Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy. 1 (3): 215–244. doi:10.1007/s12061-008-9009-1. S2CID   129707491 – via Springer Link.
  12. ↑ "Crime and justice | Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia". www.csb.gov.lv. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  13. ↑ Nollendorfs, Valters (26 February 2010). "CRIMES OF COMMUNISM IN LATVIA" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 October 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Loskutovs, Aleksjs (2016). "Transnational Organized Crime – Latvian Challenges and Responses". Connections: The Quarterly Journal. 15 (3): 33–39. doi: 10.11610/Connections.15.3.03 . Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  15. ↑ "Latvia- Robbery rate". Knoema . 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Companies join in bid to combat robbery in Latvia". Public Broadcasting of Latvia . 2 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "Latvia: Robbery rate". The Global Economy.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-20.
  18. ↑ "Latvia continues to comfortably lead in one set of statistics that it would certainly prefer not to – homicides". Public Broadcasting of Latvia . June 8, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Latvia continues to comfortably lead in one set of statistics that it would certainly prefer not to – homicides". Public Broadcasting of Latvia . June 8, 2022.
  20. ↑ Harris, Chris (5 June 2014). "Italy, Latvia and UK among Europe's worst for serious drug use, says report". Euronews .
  21. ↑ "Latvia Country Drug Report 2017" (PDF). European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction . 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-07-13.
  22. ↑ "Crime prevention policy: Latvia" (PDF). European Crime Prevention Network. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-20.
  23. ↑ Loskutovs, Aleksjs (2016). "Transnational Organized Crime- Latvian Challenges And Responses" (PDF). Connections: The Quarterly Journal. 15 (3): 33–39. doi:10.11610/Connections.15.3.03.
  24. ↑ Ivančiks, Jānis; Tumalavičius, Vladas; Teivāns-Treinovskis, Jānis (June 2015). "Security of Society: Narcotics and Drug Addiction in Latvia and Lithuania". Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues. 4 (4): 353–368. doi:10.9770/jssi.2015.4.4(4) – via ResearchGate.
  25. ↑ "Latvia". Transparency International . 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-24.
  26. ↑ "Corruption Perception Index 2019".
  27. ↑ O'Donnell, John; Gelzis, Gederts (12 April 2019). "Corruption scandal casts long shadow over Latvia". Reuters .
  28. ↑ Brown, Sadie (7 June 2021). "Latvian Authorities Seize Assets Under Magintsky Act". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project .
  29. ↑ "70 organized crime groups operating in Latvia". The Baltic Course. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "Migration in Eastern and Central Europe: Latvia". European Parliament . Archived from the original on 2007-02-24.
  31. ↑ Henley, John; Roth, Andrew; Rankin, Jennifer (10 August 2021). "Latvia and Lithuania act to counter migrants crossing Belarus border". The Guardian .
  32. ↑ "Latvia Immigration Detention Profile". Global Detention Project. 21 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08.
  33. ↑ "Latvia Says It Intercepted More Than 1,000 Migrants On Belarus Border Over Past Month". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . 8 September 2021.
  34. ↑ Vilks, A. (2012). "Criminal law policy of Latvia in the context of European Union: The treaty of Lisbon" (PDF). SHS Web of Conferences. 2: 00040. doi:10.1051/shsconf/20120200040.
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