Gaming-related crimes surge

Wong Sio Chak, pictured yesterday during a press briefing

Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak announced yesterday that the local police had tackled 13, 653 criminal investigation cases throughout 2015, down 2.6 percent from the year before. However, gaming-related crimes surged.
According to Wong, the public security situation has steadily improved. No serious violent crimes of murder, kidnapping or serious assault were registered over 2015.
A total of 2,721 cases involving crimes against individuals were reported over the past year, edging up 0.1 percent. Illegal detentions saw a sharp rise of 86.4 percent, while other crimes of rape, intimidation and slander in this category decreased.
Crimes against property amounted to 7,584 last year, a decline of 3.3 percent year-on-
year. Usury cases increased by 48.1 percent to 354 from the previous period, but extortion and fraud saw a significant drop.
Driven by the sharp rise of illegal detentions and usury, gaming-related criminal cases surged by 38 percent to 1,553 cases last year, said Wong, adding that the police focused more of its law enforcement efforts on casinos as the gaming industry undergoes an adjustment period.
Statistics showed that drug-
related crimes dropped significantly in 2015, with drug abuse and drug-dealing down by 39.5 percent and 24 percent respectively. Wong added that the authorities were still on high alert and have closely monitored all crimes concerning drugs. The police will intensify their efforts to enforce the law and collect information, as well as engage in cross-regional police cooperation, to prevent further crime.
The statistics also indicated a drop in cases of juvenile delinquency, drink driving, illegal entry and the over-staying of visas.  MDT/Xinhua