Wong Sio Chak makes positive evaluation of crime level during first Semester

The Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, presented the results of crime during the first semester of 2016 yesterday.
In the press conference the Secretary made a positive evaluation of the level of crime during the period, saying that although a slight increase of 1.4 percent in the total number of crimes was registered, the number of violent crimes is still low. As a result, he justified the situation of the territory as “secure” and the situation of crime as “stable.”
In the report provided to the press it noted that violent crimes rose 14.8 pct and crimes related to the gaming industry continued to rise when compared with the same period of last year.
The crime of usury registered the biggest growth (52.3 percent), followed by the illegal detention (27.1 percent) and extortion (20 percent).
On this topic, Secretary Wong highlighted that authorities are paying special attention to these kinds of cases, remarking on the fact that the three cases which occurred between July and early August resulted in the death of incarcerated prisoners. Secretary Wong however emphasized the fact that these are “isolated cases” and that those involved “are not Macau residents.”
Also rising significantly were drug trafficking crimes (16.7 percent) and crimes against people, such as sexual abuse of children. That crime registered significant growth almost tripling in the number of cases (from 4 to 11).
On the other hand, crimes related to illegal immigration are dropping – recording a decline of 17.3 percent of illegal immigrants and overstay in the first half of this year.
Regarding the operations of car-hailing companies, Wong said “the authorities continue to be attentive to the illegal transport activities and the provision of transport services in private vehicles via the mobile application for smartphones,” adding “the police will carry out their work according to the regulations and legal proceedings.”  RM