ENG-2020 — Page 297

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Public Order

Crime

In 2020, 63,232 crimes were recorded, an increase of 6.8 per cent over 59,225 crimes recorded in 2019. The crime rate went up by 7.1 per cent to 845 cases per 100,000 population. There were 9,391 violent crimes, down 3.1 per cent. Robberies rose 25.7 per cent to 264 and burglaries decreased 12.5 per cent to 2,095. Thefts numbered 20,314, down 2.2 per cent.

Of the reported crimes, 37.8 per cent, or 23,933 cases, were detected, resulting in the arrest of 29,565 persons. Among these, 1,218 were juveniles aged between 10 and 15, while 2,769 were young persons aged between 16 and 20. Arrests of youths were mostly for offences against public order, wounding and serious assault, and shop theft.

The number of triad-related crimes increased 30.2 per cent to 1,761 compared with 2019, accounting for 2.8 per cent of all reported crimes in 2020.

The police combat triad activities by mounting enforcement action and intelligence-led operations in Hong Kong, targeting triad expansion and sources of income. The police also participate in the annual tripartite operation codenamed 'Thunderbolt' with the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and Macao Unitary Police Service.

Commercial Crime

The Commercial Crime Bureau combats serious commercial crime and the counterfeiting of monetary instruments. In 2020, the bureau's Fraud and Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce facilitated 21 intelligence-led operations, resulting in the arrest of 118 persons and freezing and restraining crime proceeds of $75.99 million. In August, the taskforce was ranked top in three performance indicators in a survey by the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based think tank, on financial intelligence sharing when compared with 22 other public-private partnerships across the globe. The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre intercepted around $3.1 billion of crime proceeds from local and overseas accounts and coordinated the arrests of 95 persons and interception of three suspects. The anti-scam helpline received 22,668 calls from the public.

Cyber Security and 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. During the year, 12,916 technology crimes were reported, involving a total monetary loss of $2.96 billion.

Dangerous Drugs

The police adopt a multi-agency approach, enlisting community support to combat drug abuse and trafficking. During the year, 3,587 persons were arrested for drug offences, mostly involving methamphetamine, also known as 'ice' (22.5 per cent of the arrests), and cannabis (21.9 per cent).

The Narcotics Bureau maintains a strategic partnership with counterparts in Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies. During the year, joint operations resulted in the seizure of

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