ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE (ACEQ)

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000053 DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/EUR, DS/OSAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER SUBJECT: ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE (ACEQ) REF: 08 STATE 7551 ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE (ACEQ) ¶A. Below are responses to the Annual Crime Evaluation Questionnaire for Istanbul 1) Crime Mobility (In official neighborhoods): B. Criminal elements generally concentrate their activities in high crime areas, but sometimes enter nearby neighborhoods to burglarize residences. Comment: Historically, most crime has occurred in specific, high crime areas. However, over the past year, there is evidence that criminals have been targeting more affluent areas. The Etiler District, home to many diplomats, is one such area. Police report that there has been an increase in the number of street and property crimes in recent years. 2) Crime Ambiance (around Consulate neighborhoods): A. Surrounded by low-crime buffer zones, which deter criminal elements from entering Consulate neighborhoods. Comment: Consulate officials and their families are housed in seven separate guarded (private - non USG) residential compounds in four different neighborhoods. An increase in the level of crime has been noted in buffer zones surrounding two of these neighborhoods. 3) Aggressiveness of Criminals: B. Commit street crimes and burglaries, but rely on stealth during burglaries. Comment: The majority of the crime reported in the Consulate residential areas is common street crime. Personnel reside in guarded residential communities and burglaries to Consulate residences have been rare. There has not been a burglary of a Consulate residence in over eight years. The Consulate's LGP roving patrols are an added deterrent in these areas. 4) Arming of Criminals: B. Criminal perpetrators usually are armed with knives or lethal cutting weapons. Comment: Edged weapons or force are used to threaten victims during street crimes in Istanbul but not normally in areas where Consulate employees reside. 5) Aggregation of Criminals: B. Criminal perpetrators usually operate in groups of two to four individuals; are prepared to be confrontational, but generally avoid gratuitous violence. Comment: Commonly, two or more male criminals will work in concert to commit a street crime. One criminal often approaches a victim, with a partner waiting to assist if the victim resists. Brandishing a knife is a common method of operation used by criminals in Istanbul. Distraction techniques such as a staged fight, someone asking for the time or spilling something on the victim are also used while an accomplice steals a purse or wallet. Another ruse is to draw an unsuspecting tourist into a bar, threaten them and then force them to pay an exorbitant bill. 6) Deterrence/Response of Police: B. Local police or neighborhood associations are partially effective in deterring crime. Comment: A physical presence, often a security guard, will generally deter crime. 7) Training/Professionalism of Police: C. Police in Istanbul vary in degrees of professionalism and effectiveness. Comment: Some sections of the Istanbul TNP are effective and professional, while others are not. The effectiveness is also dependent on the section or district's leadership. While sections like narcotics and counter-terrorism in Istanbul boast successes, other units remain ineffective. Wiener