ROBBERY, HOUSEBREAKING AND THEFT

Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there has been a noticeable increase in the number of robbery, housebreaking and theft cases in the last six months; and, if so, what measures are being taken to curb this increase.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: There has been an increase in the number of robbery and theft cases in the first three quarters of 1985,whilst the number of housebreaking cases has decreased for the same period.Robbery increased from 375 cases in the first quarter to 395 in the second quarter and 467 in the third quarter. Housebreaking has decreased from 1002 cases in the first quarter to 850 in the second quarter and 900 in the third quarter. Theft cases increased from 5408 in the first quarter to 5803 in the second quarter and to 6549 in the third quarter.

To keep the crime situation under control, the police have increased preventive patrols in crime-risk areas and also adopted various enforcement strategies. More police officers have been put on plainclothes detective duties to concentrate on detecting and solving crimes. Anti-crime operations involving Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs), Police Task Force (PTF) and Voluntary Special Constabulary (VSC) officers, detectives and off-duty officers have also been stepped up. These measures have resulted in more arrests. Comparing the period January-September 1985 and January-September 1984, robbery arrests increased by 67 cases (22.1%) arrests for housebreaking increased by 47 cases (11.5%) and arrests for thefts increased by 303 cases (8.4%). The availability of on-line computerised screening at police stations since August 1985 has facilitated checks on suspicious persons and vehicles by patrol officers. As a result, more wanted persons have been arrested and stolen vehicles recovered.

However, the police measures alone are insufficient to effectively control crime. Public cooperation with the Police is also necessary. Timely information from the public can greatly assist the police to detect and prevent crimes. The Police, on their part, will continue to keep the public informed of the crime trends in their neighbourhood and disseminate information on crime prevention through publications, regular exhibitions and talks. More Neighbourhood Watch Groups in residential areas and Crime Prevention Committees in commercial premises and shopping complexes will be organised. The establishment of more NPPs will also help to bring the police closer and more accessible to the public. Police Officers now work more closely with the residents living in the neighbourhood and with the community grassroot organisations.

These efforts to cultivate police/public cooperation have had an impact on crime control and arrest rates. There has been an encouraging trend over the last two months of members of the public rendering assistance to the police in arresting criminals. About 20 criminals were arrested either directly by members of the public or indirectly through information which led to the arrest of the criminals. These cases show that community-oriented policing is a step in the right direction.