ENG-2001 — Page 387

PUBLIC ORDER

Crime

Reported crimes in 2001 totalled 73 008 cases, a decrease of 5.5 per cent compared with 77 245 cases recorded in 2000. Despite the decrease, the Police Force is vigilant in maintaining law and order to ensure that the HKSAR remains one of the most stable and secure cities in the world.

Violent crimes including murder, wounding, serious assault, rape, indecent assault, kidnapping, blackmail, criminal intimidation, robbery and arson decreased to 13 551 cases. Compared with 14 812 cases in 2000, the number of violent crimes dropped by 8.5 per cent. Robbery, wounding and serious assault accounted for 71.1 per cent of the total number of violent crimes.

There were 62 robberies involving the use of firearms/arms (including pistol-like objects), a decrease of 26.2 per cent compared with 84 cases in 2000. Bank robbery rose by 36 cases, from 18 in 2000 to 54 in 2001.

Regarding non-violent crimes, burglary (excluding aggravated burglary) decreased slightly from 8 964 cases in 2000 to 8 637 in 2001, a decline of 3.6 per cent. Theft also decreased slightly from 30 570 cases in 2000 to 29 542 in 2001, a decline of 3.4 per cent. Deception increased from 3 986 cases to 4 051 over the same period, a rise of 1.6 per cent. Serious narcotics offences increased from 2 312 in 2000 to 2 473 in 2001, an increase of 7 per cent.

Of the 73 008 crimes reported in 2001, 44 per cent or 32 151 crimes were detected, with 38 829 people arrested for various criminal offences. Of those arrested, 5 909 were juvenile offenders (aged seven to 15) and 6 145 were young persons (aged 16 to 20).

Violent Crimes Involving Firearms

The number of violent crimes involving the use of firearms declined slightly, from eight cases in 2000 to six in 2001. An identified Mainland gang was held responsible for two of these cases. Firearms seizures decreased from 21 in 2000 to 18 in 2001, which was attributable to close co-operation and effective exchange of intelligence between the Police Force and its Mainland counterparts. With a view to combating firearm-related crimes, a liaison system was developed between the Police Force and the Guangdong Public Security Department in exchanging information on suspects and forensic evidence in cases relating to the use of firearms.

Vehicle Crime

During the year, 2 562 motor vehicles were reported missing, a decrease of 8.6 per cent compared with 2 804 vehicles in 2000. The types of vehicles for which there was a decrease included luxury vehicles, four-wheel-drive off-road vehicles, motorcycles, high-performance vehicles and container tractors. The downward trend was attributable to stringent local enforcement, strengthened boundary control and the Mainland authorities' ban on right-hand drive vehicles.

Organised Crime and Triads

The organised crime and triad situation remained stable as in previous years. Triads were involved mostly in extortion, loansharking, wounding, illegal gambling, prostitution and debt collection. There were 2445 triad-related cases which

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