PUBLIC ORDER
Crime
111
During 1972, the number of crimes known to the police was 33,999 cases, an increase of 1,538 (or 4.7 per cent) over 1971. Robberies, forgery and coinage cases, frauds, snatchings, blackmail cases and indecent assaults on females increased; miscellaneous thefts, thefts from vehicles, and cases of going equipped for stealing, unlawful society and unlawful possession decreased. The number of murders was 115 compared with 98 the previous year.
Of the cases reported, 20,154 were detected, giving an overall detection rate of 59.3 per cent. The number of arrests was 14,982.
Adult offenders (16 years and over) prosecuted numbered 13,471; while juvenile offenders (under 16 years) prosecuted numbered 1,511. Compared with 1971, the number of adult prosecutions decreased by 1,823 (or 11.9 per cent) and juvenile prosecutions by 134 (or 8.1 per cent).
The Criminal Intelligence Unit, formed in May, collects and collates high-grade intelligence about professional and organised criminals. Some notable cases were solved by the unit during the year, including the theft of 48 hand grenades from a military camp in the New Territories in which all the gang members were arrested after investigations lasting two months; and the robbery of a jewellery shop when those responsible were caught in the act and property valued at $240,000 recovered.
During the short period the Criminal Intelligence Unit has operated, stolen property valued at over $1,151,000 has been recovered, and a quantity of firearms and explosive material seized.
The General Investigation Office continued to take action against organised gambling and offences connected with prostitution. A total of 84 raids were con- ducted against gambling establishments resulting in 970 persons being arrested and the seizure of $61,863. In connection with prostitution, 61 raids were carried out and 128 persons arrested.
The Commercial Crime Office, besides investigating a number of complicated fraud cases, also investigated a total of 54 cases of counterfeit notes, coins and travel- lers' cheques. Of these, 24 cases involved counterfeit United States currency, resulting in seizures amounting to a face value of US$4,605. Also investigated were three cases of counterfeit Hong Kong currency, with the face value of the seizures totalling $3,373. In one of these three cases, an illicit workshop engaged in the manufacture of $1 coins was discovered.
Also during the year under review, a fraud case concerning forged letters of credit with a face value of $12 million was investigated by the Commercial Crime Office. In this case, a total of $1.3 million in cash had been obtained before five of those involved were arrested.
The Narcotics Bureau made some large seizures during the year totalling 254 kilos of morphine, 49 kilos of heroin, 2,545 kilos of opium and one kilo of cannabis.
The total retail value of drugs seized by police during 1972 was $28.5 million. Convictions for drug offences of all kinds numbered 15,918.