Crime rate falls 10%: Policing pays off

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, expressed his satisfaction over a 10 percent crime drop in the Kingdom in 2014 compared to the previous year. The meeting approved six new initiatives to strengthen security. “Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that enjoy the highest rates of security and safety in the world,” said the minister while chairing the first meeting of the higher committee of the Anti-Crime Research Center. The deputy crown prince emphasized the importance of adopting scientific methods to fight crime and boost security and called for public and private agencies to join hands in combating crime. “We have to make continuous efforts and adopt modern methods in order to maintain the Kingdom’s security,” the prince pointed out. Prince Mohammed emphasized the support received by the Interior Ministry from the leadership, especially from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, to strengthen the country’s security machinery. The committee reviewed the overall crime situation and crime indicators in the Kingdom. The prince launched the National Observatory to Combat Crimes, which will provide latest information about crimes across the country. During the meeting, officials discussed the center’s expansion project, endorsed the unified national code for crimes and set the initiative for scientific security measures and transparency to publish correct information about crimes on the ministry’s website in order to avoid rumors. Officials also emphasized the need to highlight the efforts being made by security officers to track down wanted criminals. “Another important initiative was approved to reduce crimes with the cooperation of the Ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing and city development authorities,” read an official statement sent by the committee. According to the statement, a recent initiative to cut down crimes through social development has been approved, along with a cooperation plan with Saudi universities to promote social service. In recent months, Saudi security forces have arrested a large number of criminals, including Saudis and expatriates, involved in various crimes, as well as militants and extremists linked with terrorist organizations. -arabnews