The number of crimes recorded in the first half of this year saw an increase of 11.3 per cent compared with the same period last year. Releasing the crime statistics for the first half of 2008 at a press conference today, the Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuok Va, said the police would continue to fight crimes and that they would also target minor offences. Minor offences, such as pick-pocketing, went up by 44.5 per cent, an increase from 384 to 555 cases. Mr Cheong said the police would deploy more officers at major attractions during the tourism high season to prevent and fight pick-pocketing. The total number of crimes recorded in the six months stood at 6,928. However, the number of intimidation, forgery and transferring counterfeit money cases fell by 24.7 and 36.9 per cent. The number of arson, drugs trafficking, loan sharking and robbery cases went up by 114.3, 70.3, 44.3 and 32.5 per cent respectively. Juvenile crimes went down by 17.3 per cent, from 98 to 81 cases, with 148 young people having been involved in criminal activities. In the same period, the police have arrested 2,069 people and transferred them to the Public Prosecutions Office. The number of people arrested increased by 18.8 per cent compared with the same period last year. A total of 42,897 illegal immigrants and overstayers were caught during this period.
