There is no doubt citizens are deeply worried over the country's crime, lawlessness and public safety.

Of course, while crime policy and policing could be improved, the political atmosphere, for several reasons, seems to be the biggest barrier. While the high rate of murders and serious crimes is troubling, the dismally low detection rates for these crimes should be much more troubling.

Why? Mainly because by remaining undetected, thousands of criminals are on the loose, repeating their crimes. It's time to bring the saddening detection rates to light.

To help illustrate, we take a brief look at a very serious example, the escalating murder rate - how it grew and how it can be controlled - and its very low, troubling detection rate.

Overall, while the rate of murder and serious crimes rapidly increased from around 2006, the detection rates for these crimes dramatically decreased. Why, when police commissioners after 2006 were given 'complete powers to appoint, manage and discipline officers' and also manage the police service resources?

The growing evidence shows that apart from money, something is seriously wrong with the police service and government's policy oversight of it.

Be it sexual offences, housebreaking, wounding, robberies, etc, the average detection rates for many years now have remained generally less than 30 per cent, some less than 20 per cent.

It is therefore not helpful to say 'serious crimes are down' while the detection rates are so dismal for public safety. The overall situation is that too many undetected, repeat criminals are still on the loose, posing sustained dangers. Yes, a crisis rests with the murder rate, but there is a bigger crisis: the overall very low detection rates.

Our troubling murder rate is heading towards a record 600, passing the 547 of 2008. This is troubling mainly because of the 547 murders that year, the detection rate was only 18 per cent (99 charged). This means that some 15 years ago, at least 448 'killers' remained undetected, on the loose. After all, people don't get 'murdered' by ghosts.

Same thing in 2005, when we had 386 reported murders with only 95 (24 per cent) detected. It again means that 291 'killers' (76 per cent) remain roaming, on the loose.

Is this safe for the country? This roaming group are a special type of 'recidivists,' assuming it was just one 'killer' per person murdered. Moreover, it may very well be the same undetected people committing murder and serious crimes from year to year. How many are from gangs? Undetected gang members?

A difficult, unanswered question is therefore: how many of these undetected people went on to kill again?

In the darkened world of crime, not being caught is rewarding, so much so that non-detection creates repeat offenders. Low detection rates produce a criminal multiplier effect.

The lowest detection rate ever for murder was in 2019 - eight per cent, with at least 494 'killers' loose. Detection rate was 14 per cent in 2020.

We had 399 reported murders in 2020, with only 73 (18 per