site.btaBulgaria Had EU's Fourth Largest Number of Intentional Homicide Victims per 100,000 Inhabitants in 2015

Sofia, February 22 (BTA) - Relative to its population, Bulgaria ranks fourth in number of intentional homicide victims, 1.79 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to a Eurostat analysis of intentional homicide victims recorded by the police in 2015. It was released to mark the European Day for Victims of Crime, February 22.

The three Baltic republics top the table: Lithuania with 5.89 victims per 100,000 inhabitants, Latvia with 3.37 and Estonia with 3.19. The lowest number of intentional homicide victims relative to population was recorded in Austria (0.51), the Netherlands (0.62) and Spain (0.65).

The National Statistical Institute (NSI) reported 79 homicides and 26 attempted homicides in 2016. Bodily harm was inflicted in 820 cases. Ninety-seven conviction sentences for homicide committed in various periods were pronounced and 100 persons were convicted in 2016.

In 2016, more than 1,400 perpetrators of 1,770 crimes against the person were convicted. Those were 5 per cent of all persons whose sentences were enforced and about 6 per cent of all convictions in that year.

Crimes involving infliction of bodily harm accounted for the largest number of convictions, with 766 cases ending in conviction sentences. Sixty-one persons were convicted of rape, 220 of lewd acts and 31 of human trafficking.

The crime rate dropped considerably from 600 per 100,000 population in 2012 to 450 per 100,000 population in 2016. The crime rate was highest in the 18-24 age group at 1,250 persons per 100,000 population, and lowest in the 50+ age group at 130 persons per 100,000 population, according to official statistics.