SINGAPORE'S safe-haven image was further boosted Feb 27 with police reporting a 15 percent drop in reported crime last year.

The 30,694 cases, or 7.6 investigations for every 1,000 people, was sharply down on the 35,982 reported crimes in 1999.

Eight of Singapore's nine crime categories declined in 2000, with the only increase being for rioting -- defined here as fighting involving five or more people -- which rose 4.1 percent to 327 incidents.

In a population of four million people, there were 36 murders last year, down two on 1999, robberies fell by 30.2 percent from 663 cases to 463, while there were 122 reported rapes, two fewer than the previous year.

However, the number of rapes which arose out of contact made through the Internet and chat lines rose from six to eight.

Despite the declining crime figures, which do not include immigration offences, the police said there was a need to continue strengthening intelligence and operational capabilities.

"Crime has declined by 14.7 percent compared to 1999," a police statement said, while adding that "low crime does not mean no crime."

"For the police to continue to be effective in keeping the lid on crime, its partnership with the community is vital ... In the months to come, neighbourhood police centres will continue to present a sharper edge in community policing islandwide."

Calling for public participation in crime prevention, the police said they were looking for "yet another year of decline in crime and an even safer Singapore for all of us."

The most prolific crime in Singapore last year was theft. The 18,465 reported cases, down 14.8 percent on 1999, accounted for 60.2 percent of all offences.

Housebreaking offences fell by 36.4 percent from 1,562 to 993, with most cases occuring during the day when the occupants were not in. There were 1,651 motor vehicle thefts down 23.2 percent on the previous year.

Juveniles, aged between seven and 15 years, accounted for 9.3 percent of the total offenders, down from 9.5 percent, with 1,461 arrested last year.

Slightly more than one-third of the juveniles arrested were female, up from 29 percent in 1999.

Robberies of elderly people dropped from 84 cases in 1999 to 67, however people over the age of 60 continued to be targeted by conmen, with the number of cheating cases up from 35 to 60.

Overall, cheating and related offences, including forgery and counterfeiting, fell 4.9 percent to 1929 cases.