Crime situation remained stable in the first half of 2006

The overall law and order situation remained stable in the first six months of 2006 with an increase of 3.5 per cent in the overall crime, according to the Police Director of Crime and Security, Mr Richard Tang Hau-sing.

Speaking at a press conference today (July 25) to review the crime situation in the territory between January and June this year, Mr Tang said, "During the period, a total of 39, 433 cases were record, representing an increase of 3.5 per cent over the 38,117 cases in the first half of last year.

There was a total of 7,091 cases of violent crime recorded in the last six months, a 7.9 per cent increase when compared with 6,571 cases in the corresponding period last year.

Noting that there was a general increase in the number of serious crimes such as bank robbery (up 120 per cent), homicide (33.3 per cent), theft from vehicles (up 22.4 per cent), missing vehicles (up 19 per cent), criminal intimidation (up 16.1 per cent) and serious narcotics offences (up 12.2 per cent), Mr Tang said Police spared no efforts in the fight against these crimes.

Other serious crimes such as rape (down 15.6 per cent), pickpocketing (down 15.3 per cent), criminal damage (down 11.7 per cent) and burglary (down 4.7 per cent) all registered a drop in number.

He pointed out that a total of 20 bank robberies were recorded in the first six months of this year, an increase of 120 per cent when compared with nine cases in the corresponding period last year. Yet in 15 of those cases, the culprits failed in their attempts and fled empty-handed, with the banks suffered no property loss.

"So far, the police have detected 11 cases with the arrest of five males. All cases were committed by lone culprits and there was no evidence to suggest any involvement of crime syndicates. We believed that some of the cases were simply committed by copycat robbers," Mr Tang said.

He said it was worth noting that the second quarter saw improvement in the situation of bank robbery as of the 20 cases recorded in the first half of the year, 17 occurred in the first quarter but only three in the second quarter.

He also pointed out that Police had achieved satisfactory results in the fight against triad activities and serious narcotics cases. Over the past six months, Police had mounted a number of intelligence-led and undercover operations against targeted triad personalities and activities to combat the financial sources of triads. Of significance was the operation codenamed "Thunderbolt", a tripartite anti-triad operation conducted by the Hong Kong Police in conjunction with the Guangdong and Macau law enforcement agencies in June this year.

The operation had resulted in the arrest of 1,762 persons, the smashing of 37 gambling dens, 44 vice establishments and two smoking divans. In addition, a large quantity of dangerous drugs, pirated optical discs, marked oil and illicit cigarettes were seized. Corresponding operations carried out by the Guangdong and Macau police also yielded significant results.

Regarding the fight against trafficking and abuse of dangerous drugs, Mr Tang said over the past six months, a total of 1,018 serious narcotics cases were detected and 1,274 persons were arrested for serious narcotics offences, an increase of 12.2 and 12.1 per cent respectively when compared with the same period last year.

"Cases involving psychotropic substances increased by 36.1 per cent, with Ketamine and Cocaine having gone up by 120 per cent and 82 per cent respectively. On the contrary, the number of cases involving herion and Ice had gone down by 20 per cent," he said.

"Except for Ketamine, the quantity of dangerous drugs seized had recorded a drop when compared with the same period last year. It is worth noting that early this year we have made two large seizures of Ketamine, totalling 351 kilograms, and also neutralised an Ecstasy manufacturing centre with a seizure of 600 kilograms of Ecstasy powder sufficient for producing 300,000 Ecstasy tablets."

"Apart from maintaining stringent enforcement actions, we will also place emphasis on the education and publicity front by strengthening the dissemination of anti-drug abuse messages to the public, in particular teenagers," Mr Tang added.


Add Police Report No. 6

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Tuesday, July 25, 2006