|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 18 August 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Crackdown on grave crime brings results by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE There has been a slight drop in the incidence of grave crime reported during the first six months of this year, in comparison to last year due to a crackdown on organised crime such as drug trafficking. The speedy arrest of hardcore criminals, human smugglers and service deserters on the guide lines set up by the Interior Ministry have also led to the decrease, police sources told the 'Sunday Observer'. However, a marginal increase in grave crime is observed in certain categories such as robbery, arson, grievous hurt, sexual offences, burglary and theft during the corresponding period. Interior Minister John Amaratunga ordered the crackdown which resulted in several drug dealers and hardcore criminals being arrested by the police and other law enforcement agencies in the past six months. Statistics compiled by the Police Department have revealed that the number of homicides amounting to 691 during the first six months of 2001 was reduced to 626 during the corresponding period in 2002. Instances of causing hurt by knife reduced from 2,608 to 2,491, rape from 574 to 545 and abductions from 373 to 324, instances of sexual abuse from 143 to 130, extortion from 48 to 45, cruelty to children and child abuse from 147 to 121. Instances of burglary and theft amounting to 6809 during first six months of 2001 increased to 6,875 during the first six months of 2002. Arson increased from 387 to 469, grievous hurt from 838 to 885, robberies from 2,361 to 2,624, burglary and theft 6,809 to 6,875. Grave Crimes committed during the 1999-2001 period soared with underworld gangs and service deserters being armed with sophisticated unauthorised firearms committing serious crimes. Several killings and robberies were committed during this period where several police officers were linked to organised crime and election related violence. Police say that a large number of service deserters who decamped with firearms are still at large despite attempts to round them up. However, better coordination now exists between different police divisions on exchange of intelligence relating to crime. Crimes committed in one police division are communicated to other parts of the country as soon as possible leading to the speedy arrest of culprits. Meanwhile, under a special program initiated by Minister Amaratunaga, police stations are setting up Peoples Committees to liaise with community organisations in villages and places of religious worship to improve police-public relations and to gather information relating to crime. Already around 25,000 such committees have been set up in different police divisions. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
