Crime slightly up this year - police

Incidents reported at various police posts across the country have increased to 66,906 in 2013 from 66,252 reported in 2012.

Commissioner of Operation in the police force, Paul Chagonja told a news conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the incidents were reported between January and November in the respective years.

According to the commissioner’s report, most reported criminal incidents include rape, killings, armed robbery, drug abuse, illegal possession of guns, illegal immigration and traffic offences. “About 81,628 crime suspects were arrested and brought before the courts of law,” he said.

On road accidents, Commissioner Chagonja said, statistics show a gradual increase from 21,515 cases reported in 2012 to 22,383 cases in 2013. Drug trafficking cases such Heroin, Cocaine, Mandrax and Morphine have gone down by 7.3 percent since January this year. 

He also pointed out that the police also acted against human and environmental violence, importation of fake products, land disputes and cases associated to cyber crimes.

However, he said the police are putting in place new mechanism to combat crime in society including working on information on criminal activities and increasing security.

He stressed that the police force is committed to ensuring safety of people and their properties. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN