Increased concerns about public security have led to an increase in the number of people officially designated as hoodlums.
In fact, statistics released by the Ministry of the Interior on Friday stated that the number of hoodlums across the nation has increased by more than a third.
"The increased number was a result of heightened public security, and therefore, more hoodlums have been arrested in 2003 than in 2002," explained Chen Chin-hung (
Between January and September this year, the number of hoodlums reported by the police was 993, a 36.8 percent increase over the same period last year.
Of the 993 suspected hoodlums, 742 were re-examined and legally designated as hoodlums.
This year's number of legally designated hoodlums has increased by 24.3 percent over last year.
Chen explained that the heightened security is due to the increase of public complaints of the appearances of hoodlums in various neighborhoods around the country. As a result, police have increased the number of patrol officers and thus arrested more hoodlums than last year.
The mounting number of complaints does not come as a surprise, considering the numerous news reports within the last couple of months about hoodlums brazenly conducting gang fights in front of police stations.
According to the Anti-Hoodlum Law (檢肅流氓條例), any individual who is over the age 18 and has caused any of the social disturbances listed in Article 2 will be forced to report to the police and his or her actions will be reviewed.
Social disturbances described in Article 2 include crimes such as extortion, establishment of brothels and the illegal production of weapons.
After a number of police officers in the various level of the police agency have certified that the suspect has indeed committed one of these crime, the suspect will then be legally be identified as a hoodlum.
Taichung City has been identified as having the the highest rate of hoodlums per capita, followed closely by Miaoli County and Chiayi City
"The large number of gangs in these areas may contribute to the high hoodlum rates," Chen said.
According to the ministry, there are two types of hoodlums -- felons and regular hoodlums.
Once a regular hoodlum is arrested, the individual will simply be given a written warning and counseling. However, an arrested felon is not given a warning but detained right away.
This year, Taipei City has 103 felons, the highest number in the nation.
If a regular hoodlum breaks more Anti-Hoodlum Law regulations during his counseling period, that individual will be sent to a local court to be prosecuted.
Between January and September this year, a total of 500 hoodlums were prosecuted -- a 31.9 percent increase over last year.
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat. Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service. The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography. Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
RSS