DOHA: A recent report released by the Qatar Statistics Authority has drawn attention to an alarming rise in crime rates in the country over the past 10 years.
The number of crimes registered in the state increased seven times over this period, from 320 (per 100,000 people) in 2011 to 2,335 in 2010, according to the Sustainability Development Indicators report released earlier this month.
The report has attributed this increase to the huge influx of foreign workforce to the country, adding that the upward trend could continue in the coming years, with the 2020 FIFA World Cup expected to attract more foreign workers.
“It is difficult to explain the increase in crime rate in Qatar, which until recently, was enjoying a high level of social security. The real and more rational explanation is the great openness witnessed by the State, which was accompanied by arrival of huge number of people from all over the world,” said the report.
Another reason cited by the report is the development in the techniques used by criminals, “that were not common or known previously by the Qatari society.”
“It is more likely that crime rates will continue to increase, especially after Qatar winning the bid to host 2022 world cup, which requires bringing along more labor force in all fields,” added the report.
The Peninsula
