We are encouraged by the progress in the efforts of government to combat crime, as confirmed by the reports of the Minister of Police that there has been a decrease in the number of serious crimes in our country in the past year. We are, however, concerned that the combined figures of all sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, indicate an upward trend of 2,1% in the year 2010-11 compared to 2009-10. Cases involving the murder of women increased by 5,6% and sexual offences against children increased by 2,6% during this period.