Crime rate low, but increasing – forgot about auxiliary police?

January 29, 2016

Low crime rate

I refer to the article “Overall crime rate in 2014 low compared to major cities: Desmond Lee” (Channel NewsAsia, Jan 28).

It states that “In a reply to a question by MP Christopher de Souza, Mr Lee said there were 591 cases per 100,000 population that year. He added that the low crime rate was achieved with a lean police force.

9,400 regular police officers

As at December 2015, there were about 9,400 regular police officers serving in the Singapore Police Force, he said.

“This translates to about 170 police officers per 100,000 population, which is low compared to other cities such as London, New York and Hong Kong that (Mr de Souza) had asked about,” Mr Lee said.”

No mention of crime rate increase?

I was curious as to why there was no mention in the subject Parliamentary reply as to whether the crime rate had increased or decreased.

Crime rate increased 6.7% 1st half 2015?

Actually, “According to the mid-year crime statistics released by the police on Monday (Aug 24, 2015), a total of 16,575 cases were recorded between January and June this year (2015), 6.7 per cent more than that of the same period last year.”

Crime rate increased 7.4% in 2014?

For the previous year – “Overall crime in 2014 increased by 7.4 per cent, from 29,984 cases in 2013 to 32,196 cases in 2014″.

Forgot to mention auxiliary police officers?

As to “9,400 regular police officers serving in the Singapore Police Force” – it was said in a Parliamentary reply in February 2014 that

“The current total strength of the auxiliary police forces is about 6000 officers. The majority of the officers are Singaporeans, while the others are Malaysians. The employment of Malaysians into the auxiliary police forces started in the 1970s and we have continued with this practice till today.”

2 in 5 police officers are “auxiliary”?

So, did we conveniently forget to mention that there were about 6,000 auxiliary police forces – i.e. about 2 in 5 police officers are not “regulars”- thus making the total police force less “lean”, at about 15,400.

Reciprocate trust with more help?

Since the people have given their trust and mandate – shouldn’t we reciprocate by being more transparent?

Leong Sze Hian

 

 

 

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.