BACOLOD CITY, July 17 (PNA) — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) reported a 41.55-percent decrease in crime volume here during the first half of 2015.
BCPO records showed that only 4,874 crime incidents were reported from January to June this year compared to 8,639 during the same period last year.
Index crimes, including murder, physical injuries, and carnapping, decreased by 45.08 percent – down to only 1,450 incidents this year compared to 2,640 incidents reported in 2015.
Non-index crimes were also down by 42.92 percent – from 5,999 incidents in the previous year to only 3,424 this year. These include incidents of illegal gambling, illegal drugs, loose firearms, and violations of special laws.
Senior Insp. Dianne Catedral, public information officer of BCPO, said that from January to June this year, BCPO’s crime clearance efficiency increased to 31.02 percent while its crime solution efficiency also rose to 31.85 percent.
Catedral said the decrease in the city’s crime incidents can be attributed to the intensified campaign of BCPO personnel against illegal gambling, illegal drugs, loose firearms and wanted persons.
“We also stepped up the conduct of checkpoint operations,” she added.
Earlier this week, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) also reported that crime volume in the province decreased by 25.82 percent in the first half of 2015.
Senior Supt. Samuel Nacion, officer-in-charge of NOPPO, said the figures indicate that the province is generally peaceful. (PNA)