Figures showed 31,971 cases were reported last year, up 9.95 per cent from 29,077 in 2001.

Despite the jump, a police statement said the figures were the second lowest of the past 15 years.

"We have performed credibly given the significant challenges posed by the global terrorism threat and weak economic outlook," police commissioner Khoo Boon Hui said

Singapore is still fighting to fully recover from a 2001 recession that marked the country's worst economic dip.

"Our increased efforts in security preparedness have not been at the expense of fighting crime. Police are in control of the crime situation," it said.

The number of juveniles arrested soared 55.8 percent from 2001 and police said this "remains an area of concern."

Seven of the nine crime categories compiled by the police experienced increases last year, with robbery seeing the biggest jump, of 62.1 percent.

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