Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged Ho Chi Minh City tofiercely step up measures to deal with crime as the Lunar New Yearapproaches.
The Deputy PM made the order on December 8 at aconference to review the prevention and combat of crime in the southerncity in 2013 and plans for the next period.
According todeputy chief of the Anti-Crime Police General Department under theMinistry of Public Security Major General Nguyen Phi Hung, emergingcrimes in Ho Chi Minh City include economic crimes, smuggling, andthose using high technology.
Particularly, violations in the fields of the environment and drug use are of deep concern, he added.
Reports from the municipal police reveal that 6,218 criminal casesoccurred in the city in 2013, 290 cases more than the year before. Inwhich, 133 people were killed, another 758 were injured and propertydamages cost almost 90 billion VND (4.23 million USD).
Toaddress the increase of criminal cases, Deputy PM Phuc asked themunicipal authority to intensify preventive measures, timely settle thecontradictions in the community, while mobilising all citizens toparticipate in the combat against crime.
He requested themaintenance and better coordination between Ho Chi Minh City andneighbouring localities to ensure social security for people not only inthe city but for the whole nation as well.
The Deputy PMalso asked local police forces to prioritise improving traffic safetyand help prevent the smuggling and trading of fake and poor qualityproducts in the upcoming Lunar New Year.