We are encouraged by progress in the efforts of government, in particular the police, to combat crime as confirmed by the decrease in a number of serious crimes in our country over the past year. However, we are concerned that the combined figures of all sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, indicate an upward trend of 2,1% in 2010-11 compared to the 2009-10 financial years. Cases of murdering women increased by 5,6% and sexual offences against children increased by 2,6% during this period.