'Police data shows crime rate double what was released'

A crime watchdog has claimed that police internal data shows that the crime rate in 2011 is more than double the statistics announced to the public.

The allegation was made by the newly-established NGO MyWatch, of which former inspector-general of police (IGP) Musa Hasan is patron, during a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

To back his claim, MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan furnished an internal circular purportedly issued by Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Bakri Zinin on Oct 13, 2011 to state police chiefs.

Two charts showing the statistics for ‘burglary and housebreaking’ and ‘snatch cases and robberies without firearms’ in all states in 2010 and 2011 were attached with the letter.

According to the charts, the number of burglaries and house break-in cases nationwide from January to October 2011 are 43,792, which is 45 percent higher than the 30,200 announced by the police.

For snatch cases and robberies without firearms nationwide from January to September 2011, the number stands at 17,782, more than double the figure announced by the police which is 7,324.

Both Musa and Sanjeevan urged the current IGP, Ismail Omar, to explain the discrepancies.

“They need to respond on whether the allegation is true or not. If it is true, correct (the statistics); if it is not true, deny the allegation,” Musa added at the press conference.