Estonia to see higher crime rate

Nov 03, 2009
TBT Staff

TALLINN - Estonian Interior Minister Marko Pomerants has said that the country could expect to see an increase in the crime rate of as much as 6 percent next year. 

Speaking on "Direct Talk", the Interior Minister said the increase of crime will largely be due to the economic crisis, Estonian Free Press reported.

"We might see a growth: not a 20 percent one as someone said, but of something close to 5-6 percent. Obviously these are only assumptions," he said.

The country has already seen an increase in the number of robberies and thefts since the onset of the economic crisis.

The site reported that former director of the Central Criminal Police Andres Anvelt, another guest on the show, said tyhe situation could be exacerbated by the 15 percent budget cuts that internal security forces are facing in the budget.

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