Col. Tin Win, the Yangon Region Security and Border Affairs Minister, said on September 24, that out of the six most common crimes, theft is the most unsolved.
He made the remark at the Yangon Region Legislative Assembly session, in response to a query.
Legislator Mya Ngwe from Kamayut Township constituency raised a question regarding the number of crimes that are yet to be solved, such as theft, murder, burglary, robbery, human trafficking and drug-related crimes.
He said, “I would like to raise a question on the transparency of law enforcement in the region. The people want to know how many murders were committed and how many cases have been solved; how many theft cases occurred and how many culprits have been arrested.”
Col. Tin Win responded that there are 581 unsolved cases of theft committed between early 2011 and April 2013.
Similarly, culprits of 23 burglaries, 16 robberies and six murder cases which were committed during the period have not been arrested yet according to him.
He further elaborated that the Yangon Police Force has been trying to lower crime by launching an anti-crime operation codenamed ‘Black Tiger’ with more patrol police and surprise raids.
Retired police officers pointed out that the Myanmar police force needs training and capacity building to improve their management and conflict resolution skills.
Retired Sub Police Major Nyunt Hlaing said, “They need capacity building badly. They will feel insulted if I say that they are not qualified enough. But they really need both physical and mental capacity building training”, in an interview in August to Mizzima.
Jason Eligh, Country Manager of the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime had informed Mizzima earlier this month that they would provide technical assistance to reform the Myanmar Police Force.
