Annual police report also shows 60% increase in knife violence among youth.
By JPOST.COM STAFFknife 88(photo credit: )
Israeli crime decreased by 5% in 2005, police reported on Monday. Nonetheless, the police's annual report also registered a sharp increase in arms stockpiles in the six major crime organizations.
In an interview with Army Radio on Monday, Inspector-General Moshe Karadi said that dealing with violent crime is at the top of law enforcement priorities. "Organized crime activities are becoming more and more similar to those of terrorist organizations … Their activity is ramping up, which undoubtedly shakes the public's feeling of security. Organized crime must be dealt with in the same way as terror."
Other data released today by the police shows that violence among youth has further increased in the past year. In 2005, the number of youth caught in possession of knives went up 60%. "We have declared war on the stabbing phenomenon," Karadi said. "But the treatment of [violent] youth has to be multi-institutional. [This] includes the police as well as the home and the educational system."
The Department of Traffic reported a 14% decrease in car accidents on Israeli roads. Likewise, there was a 10% decrease in the number of fatal accidents. 397 people were killed in car accidents in 2005 as opposed to 471 in 2004.
Inspector-General Karadi added that in 2006, the police plan to fight governmental corruption and the penetration of organized crime into government offices.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
