Crime in Macau dropped by 16.7% between January and September, compared to the same period in 2021, with the “most significant reduction” taking place in violent crime, announced today the secretary for Security in the territory.
The authorities opened 7,329 cases of criminal investigation, which translates into a reduction of 1,473 cases in the months under review, compared to the same period of 2021, according to a statement from that government department.
In this crime balance, the authorities noted “a trend towards a reduction in the number of crimes”, with the “most significant reduction in violent crime, which leads to the conclusion that the security environment in Macau remains stable”.
In violent crimes, such as kidnapping, homicide, child sexual abuse, kidnapping, drug trafficking and sale, theft, rape, fire and serious harm to physical integrity, the authorities registered 114 cases in the period under analysis, against 202 in the same period of the year. last year, a reduction of 43.6%.
However, the security forces highlighted, between January and September, a rise in cases of sexual abuse of children with the registration of 23 cases, an increase of 53.3%.
“The data show that the situations in which victims meet offenders through chat applications have increased,” said the authorities’ report.
The document also underlined that, in the first three quarters of this year, the authorities registered 90 cases of the crime of extortion, that is, 18 more cases compared to the first nine months of 2021, with an increase of 25%.
“Among these, the type of crime of ‘nude chat’ on the internet represented the highest percentage, registering 58 cases, which translates into an increase of 14 cases”.
A significant reduction was verified, according to new data, in illegal immigration to the territory, with the competent departments detecting, between January and September, 151 illegal immigrants, “representing a decrease of 116 individuals and 43.4% in comparison with the same period last year”.
Of the 151 illegal immigrants, 138 were from Mainland China and the remaining 13 from other countries, the report added.
The document also highlighted “changes in Macau and neighboring regions, caused by the epidemic situation of the new type of coronavirus, in particular by the epidemic outbreak of June 18”, which generated “a severe socioeconomic impact and for the life of the population Macao, and all sectors of society”, including gambling.
Gaming “is a pillar industry in Macau and its development is closely related to the security environment of society in Macau, so security authorities continue to assess the possible impact of various instability factors on the development of the industry”, he said. .
Gambling accounts for around 80% of government revenue and 55.5% of Macao’s gross domestic product (GDP), in an industry that employs more than 80,000 people, that is, 17.23% of the employed population.
