Singapore records lower overall crime rate in 2017

SINGAPORE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Home Affairs said on Thursday that Singapore remains one of the safest countries in the world, as its crime remained low and the overall crime rate fell last year.

According to the Overview of 2017 Safety and Security Situation released by the ministry, the number of theft and related crimes and the number of violent and serious property crimes decreased significantly in 2017 compared to 2016.

Meanwhile, Singapore remained relatively drug-free last year, even as regional and global drug situations continue to worsen, the overview says. It adds that the recidivism among ex-offenders remain low in the city-state, and there were declines in numbers of immigrant offenders, fire accidents and injuries, and fatal accidents and fatalities.

But the ministry does not provide any specific number in the overview. According to local media, Singapore's overall crime rate per 100,000 population was 588 cases in 2016, when the number of violent and serious property crimes was 248, and the number of theft and related crimes was 14,127. Enditem