INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS SECURITY IN CROATIA IS VERY FAVOURABLE

( Editorial: --> 9676 ) ZAGREB, July 24 (Hina) - Movements in criminal activity in Croatia bear witness to a very favourable state of security for people and their property, as well as a promising situation in controlling overall crime, says Interior Minister Ivan Penic. At a government press conference on Friday, Penic said 284 people had been killed in road accidents during the first half of this year and the Interior Ministry's aim was to reduce this number to below 700 per annum. The first six months of 1998 recorded 25,461 criminal offences, which was an 8.8 per cent increase on the same period last year. But the Croatian Interior Minister said the composition of offences in the past few years was constantly changing, so the share of commercial and organised crime was on the increase while general crime was falling. Croatian police had achieved particular success in reducing the number of stolen vehicles, despite an increase in the number of registered vehicles, which was helped with the smashing of smuggling rings, Penic said. He said the number of robberies was increasing and warned companies and institutions to install technical equipment to prevent break- ins. Drug abuse recorded a 27.4 per cent increase, but the Interior Ministry recently succeeded in breaking several drug smuggling rings, Penic said. The first six months achieved good results in fire protection, with blazes being successfully put out despite recent high temperatures, the Interior Minister said. (Hina) mbr jn /ha 241723 MET jul 98