US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT314

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000314 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE 
(ACEQ) 
 
REF: 00 SECSTATE 50692 
 
1.  (SBU)  The following responses, which reflect Emergency 
Action Committee consensus, are keyed to paragraph 6 of the 
Annual Crime Evaluation Questionnaire (reftel): 
 
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I. Crime Mobility (Into Emboff Neighborhoods) 
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(B) "Criminal elements generally concentrate their activities 
in high crime areas, but sometimes enter nearby neighborhoods 
to burglarize residences." 
 
Details: Criminal incidents in Emboff neighborhoods during 
2004 were as follows: 
 
Sexual Harassment: During May 2004, an unidentified male 
exposed himself to an Emboff's spouse as she drove through 
her neighborhood.  No evidence surfaced to suggest that the 
perpetrator's actions were other than random.  The incident 
was reported to the Royal Oman Police (ROP).  (04 MUSCAT 1195) 
 
Criminal Trespass: On November 5, 2004, an Indian national 
was apprehended by the ROP after an Emboff witnessed the 
individual peering into the windows of his residence.  As a 
result of his actions, the trespasser was subsequently 
sentenced by an Omani court to one and a half months in 
prison, in addition to time served.  (04 MUSCAT 1954 & 2200) 
 
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II. Crime Ambiance (Around Emboff Neighborhoods) 
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Emboff neighborhoods are: 
 
(A) "Surrounded by low-crime buffer zones, which deter 
criminal elements from entering Emboff neighborhoods." 
 
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III. Aggressiveness of Criminals 
-------------------------------- 
 
Criminal perpetrators usually: 
 
(A) "Are deterred by risk of confrontation and engage 
principally in crimes by stealth; burglaries of occupied 
residences are usually avoided." 
 
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IV. Arming of Criminals 
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Criminal perpetrators usually are: 
 
(A) "Unarmed or armed with non-lethal weapons." 
 
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V. Aggregation of Criminals 
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Criminal perpetrators usually: 
 
(A) "Operate alone." 
 
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VI. Deterrence/Response of Police 
--------------------------------- 
 
(A) "Local police or neighborhood associations effectively 
deter crime in Emboff residential areas; closure rate of 
cases and conviction of criminals are high throughout the 
metropolitan area." 
 
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VII. Training/Professionalism of Police 
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(A) "Police are professional, well trained, unfailingly 
cooperative and responsive to requests from the Embassy." 
BALTIMORE