The Police of HCM City and six southern provinces have signed a co-operation agreement to increase crime prevention and control at adjacent areas. — Photo www.hcmcpv.org.vn

HCM CITY — A co-operation agreement was signed on Thursday between the police departments of HCM City and six southern provinces to increase efficiency in crime prevention and control in adjacent areas.

Major Geneal Lê Hồng Nam, director of the city's Police Department, said that strong international integration has contributed to the development of the city and Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, Tây Ninh, Long An and Tiền Giang provinces, but has also led to a rising number of crimes in these localities.

Many migrants from other cities and provinces have also moved to the city, he noted.

The police forces in the seven localities in recent years have been working together to implement annual cooperation plans in increasing patrols and inspections and cracking down on crime and criminal groups.

Coordination in preventing criminal activities along waterways, illegal sand exploitation along Sài Gòn and Đồng Nai rivers, and fire prevention, fighting and rescue has also been done well.

“Positive results have been achieved in implementing the coordination, especially in fighting illegal trafficking and transportation of narcotics on the Việt Nam-Cambodia border,” he said.

Since 2018, the seven localities’ authorities have discovered 28,347 criminal violations. More than 20,400 criminal violations were detected in the last two years, accounting for 19.6 per cent of the country's total cases.

Illegal activities of many kinds such as robbery, theft, property appropriation, drug-related crimes and “black credit” are still serious, Nam said.

Secretary of HCM City Party Committee Nguyễn Văn Nên said the seven localities have significantly contributed to socio-economic development of the southern key economic region and the nation.

“The co-operation in crime prevention and control between the localities is necessary and has significant meaning,” he said.

He said the police forces need to be more proactive in their fight against crimes in adjacent areas. The localities should create favourable conditions for the public to join the 'All People Protect National Security' movement by calling on every resident to join hands in fighting crime, he said. — VNS