crimes10points-eb61dc9241a829dd.pdf

The report finds that 43.5% of surveyed Malawians experienced crime between May 2002 and May 2003, with crop and livestock theft being the most prevalent 'crimes of need' driven by food insecurity. Corruption is the third most common crime, though likely underreported. The report notes that low police reporting rates hinder crime prevention and suggests that sustainable food supply programmes and better cooperation between police and traditional authorities could mitigate these issues.

• Between 1 May 2002 and 1 May 2003, 43.5% of the survey sample in Malawi experienced one or more crimes. The most prevalent crimes are 'crimes of need', specifically crop theft and livestock theft, committed by poor individuals for subsistence during food shortages.
• Theft of crops and livestock creates a cycle of victimisation where vulnerable households, having lost their means of subsistence, are forced to steal from other poor households. The report suggests that preventive food relief programmes and sustainable livelihood initiatives, such as the Starter Pack and Targeted Inputs Programme, could reduce these crimes.
• Corruption is the third most common crime experience in Malawi. While 5.6% of the sample (384 respondents) reported experiencing a corrupt act, the actual incidence is likely higher because the survey excluded businesses, NGOs, and donor agencies, and respondents are often reluctant to report corruption.
• The report cautions that data on crimes against women, such as sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence, should not be extrapolated. This is because household surveys are not the ideal tool for these crimes, particularly in societies where such violence may have been "normalised".
• Crime reporting to the police in Malawi is low, which hinders accurate recording and the police's preventive and detective capabilities. The report suggests improving the relationship between police and traditional authorities through community policing programmes.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). crimes10points-eb61dc9241a829dd.pdf. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CRIMES10POINTS.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. crimes10points-eb61dc9241a829dd.pdf. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CRIMES10POINTS.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=crimes10points-eb61dc9241a829dd.pdf |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CRIMES10POINTS.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndcrimes10pointseb61dc9241a829ddpdf, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{crimes10points-eb61dc9241a829dd.pdf}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CRIMES10POINTS.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }