For the fourth time in a row the overall number of crimes has dropped in Switzerland, while offences like money laundering are on the rise.

In a report released on Thursday by the Federal Police Office (Fedpol), the total number of reported crimes dropped to 275,645 cases in 2008, a 1.3 per cent decrease compared with the previous year. Authorities say a decrease in theft is namely responsible for the drop.

Cases involving blackmail dropped almost 38 per cent and intentional homicides fell almost 19 per cent to 165 cases.

Some types of crimes increased. Money laundering offences were up almost a third to 204 offences. That is in addition to 157 cases the Federal Criminal Police reported. Threats and violence against civil servants jumped 23.2 per cent to 2,024 cases.

Drug-dealing crimes overall also showed a slight increase to 47,590 cases, up 1.3 per cent compared with 2007. Marijuana offences were the most abundant, followed by cocaine and heroin. Drug-use crimes fell by five per cent, the report showed.

A special 30-page report showed for the first time that there are about 500 repeat offenders in Switzerland under the age of 25. They are generally men, poorly educated and drug-using immigrants. Often they have problems at home, school or workplace and their crimes tend to involve property damage and violence.

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