Youth crime trends see an overall decline despite 50% surge in drug cases
發佈日期: 2025-09-15 20:10
TVB News
In the first half of this year, the number of serious drug cases involving youths surged by 50 percent year-on-year, even though overall youth crime in Hong Kong recorded a 14 percent drop.
Police Commissioner Joe Chow says the force will strengthen education and anti-crime efforts to tackle etomidate abuse and AI-related crimes.
According to latest police figures, 1,326 young people aged between 10 and 20 were arrested for criminal offences in the first six months of 2025.
The most common offence, theft, fell by around a quarter year-on-year.
That's followed by fraud cases with related arrest tallies plunging by nearly 40 percent.
However, arrests for serious drug offences jumped sharply by 50 percent, while indecent assault rose by almost a quarter.
Among the most alarming trends are etomidate-related cases. Police recorded 327 reports of etomidate-takers in the first half of 2025 which already exceeds the total for the entire 2024. More than 60 percent of them were 21 years old or younger.
Taking note of the latest youth crimes, police have released the fourth edition of the Youth Crime Prevention Booklet.
Added to this year's guide and teaching kit for teachers and parents are two new sections on the risks of etomidate drugs and online child sexual grooming.
JOE CHOW, Commissioner of Police: "They would have the first-hand knowledge because you will see inside there're some young persons who have previously done something wrong. But they have the courage. This is so important because they are human beings after all, they are flesh and blood. So I hope that all the stakeholders, they could make good use of the information inside to share, to communicate."
In view of the rise of AI-driven offences, the police chief says the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau has established a specialist team, aiming to nip various new forms of crime in the bud.
The booklet will be distributed to all secondary and primary schools across Hong Kong, as well as youth service organisations. Copies will be available at public libraries. The booklets and all the related teaching kits will be accessible online in electronic form.
