More than 137,300 crimes were committed in the country in 2001, which is down by 4% over the previous year, the annual report of the National Police Service Directorate (NPSD) reads.

69,505 of them have been solved by the police. Boiko Borissov, Interior Minister chief secretary Boyko Borisov, the NPSD leadership and police chiefs from around the country were familiarized with the report. The largest share is held by murders in the first degree, followed by robberies, thefts, and drug-related crimes.

According to NPSD Chief Vassil Vassilev the operations of 193 criminal groups have been terminated or restricted. Many of the groups were involved in armed robberies, assaults, thefts and in the illegal traffic of people and vehicles. 23,380 people were arrested on criminal charges.

More than 50 police employees around the country were dismissed for corruption and other offences in 2001, Borissov said. He gave a positive assessment of NPSD's work in 2001 and noted that police control over entertaining places should be strengthened.

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