Jump in crime reports to police
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There has been a rise in crime in Thailand in recent years and more repeat offenders being caught, a spokesman from the Justice Ministry's Office of Justice Affairs said yesterday.
In 2013, there were more than 900,000 complaints to police compared to 802,700 the year before, and 700,000 people convicted, Chawanas Janekarn said.
Research showed that in 2013, 36 per cent of adult convicts and 41.5 per cent of young offenders repeated crimes, he said, adding authorities are currently considering if certain violators can be pardoned in order to cope with the overcrowding of prisons. Those being considered for pardon include up to 30,000 men failing to report for mandatory military service.
Noted forensic scientist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of ministry’s Central Institute of Forensic Science, said a better DNA-based identification system was necessary for underprivileged and marginalised people, as it would help protect them from exploitation and trafficking. She spoke at the same press conference.
