Reply: The terms “homicide” and “violent-death,” as referred to by the hon. Member, are offences which are categorised as murder, manslaughter, murder of a newly born child, castration causing death, assault with premeditation causing death and assault upon father or mother with aggravating circumstances causing death in the Criminal Code. With regard to parts (a) and (b) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that from November 2024 to 04 July 2025, 24 cases of murder and 1 case of manslaughter were reported to the Police. 46 persons were arrested in connection with these cases, out of which, 45 persons were provisionally charged for murder and 1 for manslaughter. As regards part (c) of the question, I am further informed that since this Government took office, several measures have been put in place by the Mauritius Police Force as part of an integrated approach to reduce the occurrence of such crimes. These include inter alia – (i) The adoption of a risk-based approach by regularly visiting elderly and vulnerable persons to ensure their security and aggressive sensitisation campaigns across the island focused on safety, security, and crime prevention by the Crime Prevention Unit and the Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille; (ii) The establishment of a dedicated Homicide Review Committee by the Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille to study crime trends and identify root causes, especially in cases of femicide and domestic violence-related deaths as well as the increasing use of SafeCity Cameras for crime detection, and (iii) The enlistment of a retired officer with extensive expertise in homicide investigations to guide and support Enquiring Officers in criminal investigation.

134 These actions are part of our broader national strategy to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, and these are already giving results with a 12% decrease in the crime rate compared to the same period last year. Moreover, as I have already stated in the House on Thursday 19 June 2025, that several reforms are being brought in the Mauritius Police Force, and new technological equipment are being purchased for the Police to maintain law and order. These reforms reflect the Government’s clear commitment to ensuring the safety of every citizen, with special attention to the elderly, who are among the most vulnerable in our society. My Government has always ensured that our institutions are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to carry out their duties diligently and without interference. COCAINE SEIZURE (95 KG) – INTERPOL ASSISTANCE – COCAINE STORAGE