Criminal proceedings up by 2.5 percent in 2006

PALMA
THE number of criminal proceedings increased by some 2.25 percent in 2006, according to a report from the State Public Prosecutor.
There were 2'559 more proceedings than in 2005, with a total of 116'111 criminal proceedings started last year, the report, the evolution of judicial processes in 2006, said. It reveals that the Justice Ministry intervened in a total of 10'480 judgements of misdemeanours during last year.

In the Balearic section, in the part related to investigations carried out by the High Court's Public Prosecutor's Office, those related to crimes against town planning laws, historic heritage and the environment stand out, accounting for 25 percent of the investigations carried out. In second place are investigations related to perversion of the course of justice, disobedience and forgery, being some 12.5 percent of the investigations carried out by the Balearic Public Prosecutor.

Procedures for wounding decreased in the Balearics last year, going from 13'027 investigated in 2005 to 12'375 in 2006.
Robbery with violence and intimidation also decreased, going from 1'700 cases in 2005 to 1'096 recorded in 2006.
The Balearics also saw a decrease in the number of criminal cases related to unpaid pensions, there being 167 in 2006 as opposed to 240 investigated in 2005. Crimes of sexual assault increased in 2006 by more than 40 cases, going from 151 in 2005 to 199 in 2006.