A spike in crime rates in the four central Vientiane districts has officials turning their focus to reducing the number of felonies, ahead of the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit and other important events at the end of this year.
According to a report from the bi-yearly meeting of the Vientiane Police Headquarters on Monday, crimes rates have shot up in Chanthabouly, Sisattanak, Sikhottabong and Xaysettha districts.
The Headquarters' Deputy Chief, Lieutenant Colonel Khamkeo Manola, suggested all officials at the meeting quickly find a way to resolve the problem and make the central districts peaceful and safe for residents.
“You guys already know the targets, so why can't you catch them? Think about the answer to this question. Then you should set a good plan, strategy, and evaluate the situation before acting on each mission,” Mr Khamkeo told officials at the meeting.
The three major problems police are dealing with are drugs, theft and robbery, and road safety. Officials will now run a campaign to highlight the problems and ask for the public's help.
Another thrust will be to break up known gang rings causing strife around town.
“They have good plans, and they work in teams and networks to commit crimes. They also have a leader who makes the plans, as well as having lookouts while another person is carrying out the crime,” Mr Khamkeo said.
Deputy Chief of the Police Office, Lieutenant Colonel Khamsing Namountry, reported that in the first six months of 2012 there was a rise in the number of crimes including robbery, bag snatching, illegal trade, drug dealing and using, and traffic offences.
“The recent spurt in economic growth has meant that groups of wrongdoers want to have money to buy mobile phones and motorbikes, hang out with their friends at night and use drugs.
Because most of them are not wage earners, they're forced to find money illegally with the result that our society is not peaceful,” Mr Khamkeo said.
The four major districts have also been subject to an increase in noise deriving from anti-social behaviour.
“Some of these gang members have been given prison sentences but when they are released they resume their bad habits, with some of them gathering together again to cause more harm. Even worse, there's a new, younger generation forming gangs and doing the same thing,” Mr Khamkeo said.
He stressed that people shouldn't believe that such problems can be solved by the police alone and said cooperation from the public is needed to maintain the peace.
