Politics: Fraud and extortion continue to rise, with a very low percentage of victims reporting these offenses
Two Mexican government reports reveal the reality of crime in the country, the victims and their responses, and public security perception on the part of the population. INEGI has just published its 2025 Survey on Victimization and Public Security Perception. It is based on household surveys and individuals who called in or filed reports of crimes. It also includes estimates of the “dark figure”, meaning the percentage of undeclared offenses. The other study and information corresponds to the National Public Security System and is more specifically focused on records of investigation files, in other words, when crime victims come forward and go to the Public Prosecutor’s Offices to file charges, independent of their outcome.
This week’s edition of the Political Outlook looks at the data and underlying methodology of the two surveys to present a more rounded picture of crime in Mexico. The statistics are alarming. Of a huge 33.5 million crimes that occurred over the past 10 years, a whopping 93.2 percent, or 31.22 million, did not lead to charges being filed or if they were, did not result in the necessary investigation. However, there appears to be a trend toward fewer crimes being reported but a higher percentage of them resulting in the opening of an investigation file, with underlying methodological issues complicating the panorama. The studies indicate other possible evolving trends. Crimes such as robberies on the street or in public transportation, motor vehicle theft, and burglaries have been declining, while fraud, threats, and “other crimes”, which include kidnappings and sexual offenses, have mushroomed.
The information reveals a still important divide between crimes committed and crimes reported that have had charges filed and have been investigated. This gap is attributable in large part to distrust by broad sectors of the population toward the authorities, as well as the complicated and time-consuming paperwork and other procedures involved.
Trust in the system of justice, the prospect of a favorable outcome, and the time invested and potential benefit of engaging in the necessary follow-up are all factors limiting a more efficient resolution for a vast array of crimes. It should come as no surprise that judges and the Public Prosecutor's Office are among the authorities that generate the most mistrust among the population. It is also worth noting that none of the judicial and public security reforms, nor the new strategies announced at the federal level, address this issue.
Now read on...
Register to sample a report