PRAIA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Crime in Cape Verde fell by about 11 percent in 2025, Minister of Internal Administration Paulo Rocha has said, highlighting the key role of video surveillance in strengthening public security.
Rocha made the remarks Tuesday on the sidelines of the 20th meeting of the National Police Command Council, held in Praia, the capital.
Cape Verde recorded 18,255 criminal cases in 2025, down by 2,269 from 2024, representing a fall of 11.1 percent, he said, noting that the decline was registered on all islands except Sao Nicolau, and in 17 of the country's 22 municipalities.
The Safe City project, a government initiative on video surveillance and police intelligence aimed at modernizing public security through smart technologies, with a focus on crime prevention and rapid response, has been "crucial" in supporting police work, especially in crime prevention and criminal investigations, Rocha said.
"Video surveillance has been an essential tool, not only in deterring crime, but also in supporting evidence collection and the work of security forces," he said.
With a strong technological component and Chinese financing, the system covers tourist areas and major urban centers, and also includes the implementation of the single emergency number 112. ■
