Representatives from ministries, sectors and agencies gathered in Hanoi on Jan. 6 to plan the nation’s fight against crime in 2010.

Addressing the conference, General Le Hong Anh, Minister of Public Security instructed the joint steering board of the national anti-crime programme and the Programme of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children to quickly construct a detailed plan of action on crime prevention and human trafficking eradication.

He asked relevant agencies to complete policies helping victims of crime and human trafficking to reintegrate into the community and to properly educate youths and persons of high-risk groups as to prevent them from participating in illegal activities.

The minister mentioned campaigns mobilising people to fight crime and ensure national security during the country’s major celebrations this year, including the upcoming Tet festivities in February.

In 2009, under the two national programmes and efforts by relevant agencies and personnel, the number of crimes decreased 4.9 percent in comparison to 2008.

However, over 13,000 cases of drug-related crimes were recorded, an increase of 2.87 percent over 2008 and nearly 400 cases of human trafficking were detected with 860 victims, an increase of 5.3 percent since 2008./.