GEORGE TOWN: The state crime index dropped by 27.3% in 2021, says Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

       He said this was based on the threshold value used by Interpol as a benchmark for crime studies all over the world.

       "In 2021 a total of 3,831 index crime cases were recorded compared to a threshold figure of 5,269 for the year,” he said.

       "This works out to a reduction of 1,438 cases or 27.3%," added Comm Mohd Shuhaily at a press conference after the state police contingent's monthly assembly here on Wednesday (Jan 05).

       Comm Mohd Shuhaily said 931 violent crimes were recorded in 2021 compared to a threshold figure of 1,066 while property crimes saw 2,900 cases reported compared to the threshold figure of 4,203 cases.

       “Looking at both violent crimes and property crime index, it is clear that violent crimes did not reduce significantly like property crimes.

       “This might be caused by the restricted movement of the public during the National Recovery Plan period in 2021,” he said.

       "Property crime often happens when there are chances and opportunity and when there is no movement, the risk of being the victim of the crime can be reduced," added Comm Mohd Shuhaily.

       Comm Mohd Shuhaily added that although the crime index had been on the downward trend last year, the drug trafficking rate was still at an alarming level.

       He said throughout 2021, the state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department confiscated drugs worth RM113.92mil.

       “It is an increase of RM65.18mil compared to previous year. In 2021, a total of 7,688 had been arrested for various drug offences with 1,976 under supply category, 4,917 for possession and 1,515 for drug abuse,'' he said.