Por Sen Chey was the capital’s most crime-ridden district in 2012, though citywide crime fell by nearly 15 per cent from 2011 levels, senior police officials announced yesterday.

Major General Phuong Malay, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commissariat, told the body’s yearly National Congress yesterday that of Phnom Penh’s nine districts, Por Sen Chey had seen the greatest number of crimes, but did not offer an exact count of the offences.

“The crimes that happened the most included robberies, murders, rapes and traffic accidents,” he said, speaking at municipal police headquarters.  

“These crimes, which happened the most in Por Sen Chey district, have caused fear and more concerns for people living in Phnom Penh,” he added. “It has also affected the safety and security of the city.”

Conversely, Tuol Kork saw the least crime of any district in the city, Malay continued, while again neglecting to offer specific statistics on the number or types of crimes committed there.

Municipal Police Chief Lieutenant General Chuon Sovann, while noting that Por Sen Chey had seen more than its share of crime, noted that on the whole, crime was down just under 15 per cent in Phnom Penh, while rapes in particular were down roughly 44 per cent.

Sovann called on police to continue their efforts, and to remain vigilant 24 hours a day.

“To combat crime and other illegal activities in Phnom Penh, all district police have to continue their hard work, and cooperate well with each other,” he said, reminding attendees of their duty “providing safety and security” to city residents.

According to a Municipal Police Commissariat report, Sovann added, police in Phnom Penh last year sent 437 suspects to court, closed 202 drug trafficking cases and rescued 134 victims of human trafficking – including 16 minors.