Violent Crimes On The Rise
There was a time when I had considered Malaysia a land of 'milk and honey' where everything went well and we were the most secure people in the world. Crime was what happened in other countries that we read in the papers or watch on tv and shake our heads in sorrow for the 'poor' countries involved. Oh how naive I was! Read this damning report.
The crime rate in the country, especially of violent crimes such as armed robbery, snatch theft and rape, has increased between 11 and 13 per cent in the first five months of the year, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said Sunday. It was difficult to figure out the reason but in terms of snatch thefts the increase could be due to drug addicts and immigrants, he told.
He said the country's rate of success in resolving cases of violent crimes was between 50 and 54 per cent, which was much higher than the 20 per cent level set by Interpol (can we believe this?)
"For rape cases, nearly 93 per cent have been solved, murder 66 per cent, attempted murder 80 per cent and snatch theft 56 per cent. The problem with snatch theft is that most victims cannot identify the thieves," he said.
He said the efficiency of the police was among the main factors contributing to the high rate of cases solved, besides public cooperation through the Rakan Cop programme and following the installation of closed-circuit cameras.
On a claim by criminologist Dr P. Sundramoorthy that the police crime index was inaccurate, Fu said: "The way the police calculate the crime index is correct and according to international method and practice. "The police applied the criteria and guidelines adopted by most countries and Interpol in calculating crime indices, he said.
"However, what he (Sundramoorthy) said was probably true as some incidents were not reported to the police. If one does not lodges a report, how will the police know?"
Yesterday, newspapers quoted Sundramoorthy as saying that the police crime index did not give an accurate picture of the actual crime rate in the country because for each crime reported, one went undetected by the police.
Whom would you believe? The 'big-shot' in the internal security ministry or a mere criminologist? I'd pick the criminologist. What about you?
The crime rate in the country, especially of violent crimes such as armed robbery, snatch theft and rape, has increased between 11 and 13 per cent in the first five months of the year, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said Sunday. It was difficult to figure out the reason but in terms of snatch thefts the increase could be due to drug addicts and immigrants, he told.
He said the country's rate of success in resolving cases of violent crimes was between 50 and 54 per cent, which was much higher than the 20 per cent level set by Interpol (can we believe this?)
"For rape cases, nearly 93 per cent have been solved, murder 66 per cent, attempted murder 80 per cent and snatch theft 56 per cent. The problem with snatch theft is that most victims cannot identify the thieves," he said.
He said the efficiency of the police was among the main factors contributing to the high rate of cases solved, besides public cooperation through the Rakan Cop programme and following the installation of closed-circuit cameras.
On a claim by criminologist Dr P. Sundramoorthy that the police crime index was inaccurate, Fu said: "The way the police calculate the crime index is correct and according to international method and practice. "The police applied the criteria and guidelines adopted by most countries and Interpol in calculating crime indices, he said.
"However, what he (Sundramoorthy) said was probably true as some incidents were not reported to the police. If one does not lodges a report, how will the police know?"
Yesterday, newspapers quoted Sundramoorthy as saying that the police crime index did not give an accurate picture of the actual crime rate in the country because for each crime reported, one went undetected by the police.
Whom would you believe? The 'big-shot' in the internal security ministry or a mere criminologist? I'd pick the criminologist. What about you?
posted by The Malaysian. at 7/16/2006 09:35:00 PM
1 Comments:
Interesting site. Useful information. Bookmarked.
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