THE overall crime rate in Singapore fell 1.2 per cent last year to 32,412 cases, down from 32,797 the previous year.

Housebreaking saw the greatest improvement in 60 years, the police said in their 2008 report card released on Friday.

But amid the the lower crime rates, violent crime is on the rise, with 4,354 reported cases, up from 2007's of 4,113 cases.

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