MOI outlines anti-crime plan

Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) yesterday outlined 33 resolutions as part of the government's plans to achieve its pledge to reduce crime within six months.

"[Improving crime fighting] is not just a slogan. We will do what we say," Lee told the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislative caucus yesterday.

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) put his political career on the line by announcing on Tuesday that he will step down and resign from politics if public order does not improve within six months.

The TSU legislative caucus yesterday invited Lee, Justice Minister Morley Shih (施茂林), National Police Agency Director-General (NPA) Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and other officials involved in fighting crime to brief them on the measures they will employ to carry out the pledge.

"Previously we announced the [crime] figures every three months. Now we are considering making an announcement every month," Lee said.

Hou told the legislators that there is a shortage of 7,000 police officers nationwide, and the government will increase this number by 3,000 by October.

"Complicating the matter is that there are between 1,000 and 2,000 police officers retiring each year," Hou said. "The shortage of officers will have a negative influence on carrying out premier Su's pledge, but we will recruit new staff as soon as possible."

Shih said that the ministry will convene a meeting of national prosecutors next week to construct a plan, under which the police, prosecutors, investigators and coast guard authorities will make a concerted effort to reduce the crime rate.

Director-General of the Bureau of Investigation Yeh Sheng-mao (葉盛茂) said that confiscating smuggled drugs will be the most important task facing them this year, while the second most important task would be tracing stolen vehicles and motorcycles.

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