The number of crimes recorded in the first three quarters of this year saw an increase of 6.4 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Releasing the latest crime statistics at a press conference today, the Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va, said that compared with the increase in crimes in the first two quarters (11.3 per cent), the figure of the latest figure (6.4 per cent) showed signs of slowing down in the increase of crimes.

Despite the drop in the increase of crime rates, Mr Cheong said that the police would continue to enhance its intelligence, analyse new characteristics of crimes, devise effectives measures and fight crime.

The total number of crimes recorded in the first nine months stood at 10,158, an increase of 6.4 per cent over the same period last year.

The number of burglary of shops, arson and drug trafficking went up by 350, 95.8 and 73.6 per cent respectively. However, the number of forgery and transferring counterfeit money cases fell by 43.2 and 45.5 per cent.

The number of violent crimes increased by 14.6 per cent, with robbery and blackmail went up by 16.8 and 10 per cent.

Juvenile crimes went down by 15.8 per cent, from 146 to 123 cases, with 198 young people having been involved in criminal activities.

In the same period, the police have arrested 3,061 people and transferred them to the Public Prosecutions Office. The figure increased by 13.8 per cent compared with the same period last year.

A total of 70,523 illegal immigrants and overstayers were caught during this period.