The Madrid public prosecutor’s office warns in its 2023 report against persistence increase in criminal activity among minorsespecially among 16-18 year olds. The report is described as These figures are “worrying”. Violent crimes and offenses against sexual freedom are increasing and, as the report points out, social networks are sometimes the vehicle for offenses, which must lead to a “deep reflection” by the whole of society.
The report highlights that in 2023, 9,674 preliminary procedures. Or 9.7% more than the previous year. On the other hand, also the number of first offenders has increasedwith a total of 1,024 files, which represents an increase of 12% compared to the previous year. These files have been archived due to the withdrawal of the initiation.
The 16 to 18 age group is where the greatest number of registered minors are found, with a total of 6,926. A figure which records more criminal recidivism: among them, 4,065 had a criminal record.
On the other hand, the report also highlights that a considerable increase in registrations of minors under between 14 and 16 years old. Well, 6,037 files were opened, compared to 4,616 in 2022. The number of previously registered minors in this age group also increased: there were 2,849, compared to 1,901 in 2022.
Additionally, the number of registered criminal offenders, under the age of 14, has also increased. They were 2,770, compared to 2,259 in 2022, with 873 previous registrations, which is 61% more than the previous year, when there were only 541.
Alarming crime figures
Among minors, even if the number of homicides and murders recorded during the period decreased by 20% compared to 2022, it is still an alarming figure. There were 27 issues, almost 17.5% more than in 2021.
The number of recorded bodily crimes continues to increase, a total of 2,679, compared to 2,598 last year (3% more). As well as threats, with 1,136 reports, or 12% more than in 2022, and almost 27% more than in 2021.
Many of these questions involve minors linked to youth gangsthe use of weapons is frequent, which increases the dangerousness of actions and the risk of more serious consequences. Thus, registrations for rioting increased, reaching 46, which represents a 21% more than in 2022. The crime files of membership in a criminal organization (46 versus 44), unlawful possession of weapons (99 versus 104) and injuries related to the use of weapons or dangerous instruments (368 versus 375).
Likewise, they continue to increase domestic violence crimesalmost 13% more, and gender violence, almost 4.5% more. And crimes against sexual freedom and compensation have grown exponentially since they were recorded. a total of 595 cases of sexual assault and abuse, compared to 425 the previous year (i.e. 40% more). Furthermore, it should be noted that in many of these behaviors a total of 68 minors under the age of 14 were involved.
Social networks
After providing this data, the public prosecutor’s office carries out an evaluation of these figures in the report. He emphasizes that they represent “a true reflection of trivialization by minors and young people, violence and sexuality, from a very young age.
Furthermore, the report also considers that these behaviors “highlight the possible deficiencies of our young people in the family, educational and social sphere”, which should lead to a “deep reflection on our social model”. On the other hand, he also highlights the importance of improving “the skills of our young people to prevent future problems.”
The report also assesses that “many cases initiated were during the last quarter of the year due to the massive arrival of unaccompanied and undocumented migrants” in the Community of Madrid. Madrid’s strongest entry point was Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas Airporton flights departing from Casablanca and to various countries in South America, which do not require a transit visa.
On the other hand, the report from the provincial prosecutor’s office indicates that new technologies and the Internet have become “tools of practically universal use by minors and access to networks occurs at increasingly younger ages.”
In this sense, the emphasis is on social networks. The report publishes that the most serious forms are “cyberbullying or cyberbullying”including the so-called good slapconsisting of “the increasingly frequent recording, using mobile phones, of attacks or humiliations, then their dissemination via social networks”.
In this sense, investigations have been opened concerning people who, “from different social networks, such as tikToken, Facebook, YouTube And Instagramthey would proceed to broadcast the videos in which they are published.
On the other hand, another type of cyberbullying that has proliferated is “sextortion”because sexually explicit images of minors, “obtained consensually”, are often used to ensure that the person who sent them accepts their wishes or requests, intimidating them with the possibility of disseminating them if they do not do not accept them. “.
