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The overall law and order situation in the first six months of 2011 remained stable with a drop of 0.8 per cent in the overall crime figure, according to the Police Director of Crime and Security, Mr Lo Wai-chung.
Speaking at a press conference today (August 3) to review the crime situation in the territory between January and June this year, Mr Lo said that during the period, a total of 37,443 cases of crime were recorded, representing a drop of 0.8 per cent when compared with 37,726 cases in the first half of 2010.
There were a total of 6,437 violent crime cases recorded in the first half of this year, a drop of 6.4 per cent when compared with the corresponding period last year.
Noting that most categories of crimes recorded a fall, Mr Lo said the crimes with the number of cases on the rise included deception (up 17.2 per cent), triad-related offences (up 9.8 per cent), robbery (up 10.6 per cent), and quick cash crimes (up 2.4 per cent).
A total of 2,871 cases of deception were registered in the first half of 2011, an increase of 422 cases or 17.2 per cent when compared with the same period of the previous year. Significant increases were recorded in telephone deception and online business fraud.
In the first half of 2011, 805 reports of telephone deception were received, representing an increase of 166 cases or 26 per cent as compared with the same period of 2010, but marking a significant drop of 41.7 per cent when compared with 1,380 cases reported in the second half of 2010.
"The drop in such cases was a result of the extensive publicity in the modus operandi of 'Guess who I am' in late 2010 and the neutralization of a related deception gang in Shaoguan, Guangdong by the Mainland police authorities in early 2011."
"Moreover, a focus group has been set up to coordinate the investigation of telephone deception. Between January and July 2011, Police arrested 14 people, including 10 Mainlanders and three Taiwanese, who were believed to have involved in 13 telephone deception cases," Mr Lo said.
In relation to online business fraud, 391 cases were reported in the first half of 2011, representing an increase of 98 cases or 33.4 per cent as compared with the same period last year. Of the cases, 278 cases were related to offences arising from online auction or shopping.
Mr Lo said that Police had taken a number of arrest actions between January 2010 and July 2011, with 52 suspects arrested and 228 related cases detected.
"Police have also set up a focus group in the investigation of deception cases related to online auction in order to combat the crime in an effective and professional manner."
"In addition, we have established a liaison network with the Hongkong Post and major couriers for effectively tracing and intercepting goods that have been deceived to minimise victims' losses," he said.
As regards triad-related offences, 1,012 cases were recorded in the first half of 2011, with 1,427 persons arrested, representing an increase of 90 cases and 183 arrests as compared with the same period of 2010. Majority of the cases included wounding and serious assault, unlawful society offences and serious drug offences.
A total of 419 robbery cases were recorded in the first half of 2011, an increase of 40 cases or 10.6 per cent when compared with the same period of 2010. There was no case involving genuine firearms. The increase was mainly attributable to the rising number of robberies occurred inside lifts and on staircases of buildings and podiums.
"Police will continue to keep a close liaison with building managements to provide professional security advice. Patrol at blackspots and anti-crime publicity will also be stepped up," Mr Lo said.
In the first half of 2011, 16,181 cases of quick cash crimes were recorded, an increase of 381 cases or 2.4 per cent as compared with the same period last year. The increase was mainly attributable to the rise in miscellaneous thefts cases, including theft of metals.
There were 9,783 cases of miscellaneous thefts recorded in the first half of 2011, an increase of 418 cases or 4.5 per cent as compared with the same period last year.
Mr Lo noted that crimes such as wounding and serious assault (down 6.6 per cent), serious drug offences (down 6.5 per cent), indecent assault (down 13 per cent), and shop theft (down 1.7 per cent) all recorded a decrease.
A total of 1,059 serious drug cases were recorded in the first half of 2011, representing a drop of 74 cases as compared with 1,133 cases in the same period of 2010. Despite a decrease of 6.5 per cent in the total number of cases, rises were seen in cases involving cocaine and "Ice".
In relation to indecent assault, 674 cases were recorded in the first half of 2011, a drop of 101 cases or 13 per cent as compared with the same period of 2010. Decreases were seen in cases where victims got to know the offenders through internet activities and cases occurred inside the MTR area.
Mr Lo also took the opportunity to talk about homicide, burglary and youth involvement in crime.
There were seven homicide cases in the first half of 2011, down by 10 as compared with the same period of 2010. All of the cases were detected while most of them were related to domestic violence or the killing of family members or relatives.
In the first half of 2011, 2,252 burglary cases were recorded, an increase of 15 cases or 0.7 per cent as compared with the same period last year. Among the cases, 1,426 cases involved residential premises, representing a drop of 65 cases, and 826 cases involved non-residential premises, an increase of
80 cases.
A total of 3,967 juveniles and young persons were arrested for crime in the first half of 2011, a drop of 293 persons or 6.9 per cent as compared with the same period last year. Most of them were arrested for miscellaneous thefts or shop theft, wounding and serious assault, and serious drug offences.
In conclusion, Mr Lo said that Police would continue monitoring all crime trends closely and pay particular attention to combat those crimes with the number of cases on the rise.
"In order to prevent young people from becoming victims of crimes or being exploited for engaging in criminal activities during the summer holiday, Police have formulated related publicity plans and enforcement actions in combating employment fraud, and drug offences and sexual offences involving teenagers."
"Police also jointly conducted a tripartite anti-crime operation, Operation Thunderbolt 2011with the Guangdong and Macau police authorities between July 1 and 31, resulting in the arrest of 1,081 people," he added.
Police Report No. 11
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:43
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