The only way to keep it this way is if future governments manage to keep society egalitarian and government in the hands of the people.

Accessible healthcare, the right to basic living quarters and most importantly a big improvement in educational services that are less competitive, more inclusive and support those who are different and disadvantaged will keep us safer than enclaves for the rich surrounded by ghettos patrolled by SWAT teams.

After all I doubt we have a different gene set to the rest of the world.

The annual average for Malta is around two homicides per 100 K pop. It is one of the lowest in the world.

The case is “solved” once someone can be charged in court. If the accused is acquitted the case remains ‘solved’ (unless it’s a very special case and there’s a demand for more investigations by whoever matters).

“During the 19th and 20th centuries, around 450 homicides were committed in Malta, giving an average of less than 2 homicides a year in the 19th century and an increase of quasi-100% in the 20th century. It could be said that our nation saw a spike in murders in the last 30 years. Notwithstanding this fact, Malta is considered to rank low in murder numbers, particularly where murders with a theft or sexual motive are concerned.”

He goes on to mention that the only places were no murder had taken place were Mdina in Malta and Ghajnsielem, San Lawrenz, Mgarr and Ghasri in Gozo.

The murders are classified rather interestingly into fratricide, infanticide, child murder, wives killed by their husband, murders of other women, husbands killed by their wives, other murders by women, murder of parents, murder of public order officials, passion killings, murders involving foreigners, murders with motive of theft, murders resulting from arguments and ‘others’.

It’s an interesting read, although I’m afraid I can find no direct reference to the number of solved and unsolved murders in the generic introductory sections.