ENG-2018 — Page 313

16

Public Order

Crime

Reported crimes in 2018 totalled 54,225, a decrease of 3.2 per cent compared with 2017. The crime rate went down 4 per cent to 728 cases per 100,000 population. There were 8,884 violent crimes, down 2.2 per cent.

Overall thefts declined 10.5 per cent to 21,309 cases. Robberies dropped 9.8 per cent to 147 and burglaries fell 15.9 per cent to 1,575. The number of robberies and burglaries was at a record

low since 1969.

Of the reported crimes, 46.5 per cent, or 25,213 cases, were detected, resulting in the arrest of 28,966 persons. Among these, 928 were juveniles aged between 10 and 15, while 1,841 were young persons aged between 16 and 20. Arrests of youths were mostly for wounding and serious assault, miscellaneous thefts, shop theft and serious drug offences.

The number of triad-related crimes decreased 4.6 per cent to 1,715 compared with 2017, accounting for 3.2 per cent of all reported crimes in 2018.

The police strive to combat triad activities. An annual tripartite operation codenamed 'Thunderbolt' is mounted with the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and Macao Unitary Police Service. During the execution of Thunderbolt between May and August, 4,283 persons were arrested in Hong Kong and crime proceeds worth over $310 million were seized.

Commercial Crime

The Commercial Crime Bureau tackles serious commercial crime and the counterfeiting of monetary instruments. The bureau's Fraud and Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce, established in 2017, strengthened intelligence exchange between the public and private sectors and facilitated 31 intelligence-led operations during an 18-month pilot period, resulting in the arrest of 123 persons and interception of crime proceeds of $146 million. The bureau's Anti-Deception Coordination Centre, formed in the same year, enhanced coordination between the police and local and overseas stakeholders, working with the banking sector to intercept $1.2 billion in crime proceeds in 2018. The centre's Anti-Scam Helpline, 18222, offered anti- deception advice to the public, receiving over 25,000 calls in 2018.

Technology Crime

The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau combats technology crime and maintains Hong Kong's cyber security through partnership with the community, stakeholders and overseas law enforcement agencies. Of the 7,838 technology crimes reported in 2018, 81 per cent were internet deception cases, meaning scams perpetrated through the use of internet platforms such as social media and email. In view of the increasing trend of technology crime, the police raised public awareness through cyber security drills, seminars and campaigns. A training facility called Cyber Range was established in December to enhance police capabilities against cyber attacks.

251