During the seventh-mandate government’s first six months, from September 2023 to February 2024, the Cambodian police addressed 1,696 criminal offences out of a total of 1,898 and detained 2,540 individuals, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak detailed that the operations included 58 criminal offences and 1,540 misdemeanours, involving 107 fatalities and 589 injuries, alongside 11 stolen cars and 264 motorcycles.

“In addition to apprehending the culprits, the operations resulted in the confiscation of 47 cars, 468 motorcycles, 43 weapons, 12 homemade guns, 66 grenades, 152 knives and swords and various other tools,” he said.

Sokheak explained that following the arrests, justice officers prepared cases against the suspects which were then referred to the courts for charges related to the offences.

According to the spokesman, interior minister Sar Sokha had identified six primary areas of focus: narcotics, general criminal offences, gang activities, traffic incidents, human trafficking and border issues. 

He noted that Prime Minister Hun Manet had emphasised the principle of “house cleansing” and reinforced the implementation of the “safe village-commune” policy.

Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group LICADHO, observed that during the first six months of the new government, the police had intensified their efforts against various offences to maintain social safety and order.

He urged the police to continue doing so to prevent other crimes, emphasising the importance of law enforcement, irrespective of an individual’s rank or position. 

“Anyone committing illegal acts should be subject to the law without exception,” he said.