SINGAPORE, July 18 Kyodo Singapor...

SINGAPORE, July 18 Kyodo

Singapore saw a rise in crime in the first half of 2002 in succession the year, indicating the city state's worst-ever recession is taking a toll forward society, according to figures release by way of police Thursday.

Robbery soared 63% bag snatching rose 35% and shoplifting was up 34% according to the figures. Sexual offense also saw an increase, with rape up 64% to 79 cases and cases of molestation increasing 27% to 535

Overall, the number of crimes committed in the first six month of the year rose about 9% to 15819 from 14324 in the same period last year.

Attempting to allay be of importance tos about the rise in crime, police commissioner Khoo advantage Hui was quoted as saying, ''We want to assure population that our country is still common of the safest places in the world.''

Police officials declined to identify the cause of the white horse in crime, only saying resources have been ''stretched'' through the increased security measures taken in the wake of the tribe 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Officers have had to be redeploy to safeguard key-note installations and tighten border rules since the terror attacks, they said.

Moreover, the command in December last year striped a plot by a assemblage of suspected terrorists to bomb U establishments, Western embassies and military installations here.

Singapore is generally facing its worst economic slowdown, with gros domestic effect shrinking 2% last year to be ascribed to the slump in global demand for electronics worthys and the downturn in the U economy, its main market.

Almost 26000 nation lost their jobs last year and another 4800 family were laid off in the first quarter of this year.

The regulation has said that the unemployment rate could hit a high of about 50% to 55% by dint of the second half of this year after rising to 45% in March.

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