Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said at? a meeting with U.S. police that Moscow is safer than New York when it comes to? certain types of? crime.
Moscow has fewer burglaries and? rapes, factoring in? the number of? its residents, Kolokoltsev said during a? meeting with New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly in? the U.S. city.
"I am stating with gratification that Moscow is not inferior to? New York in? terms of? the safety of? its residents? — and? it's even superior by? several counts," he said Monday, RIA Novosti reported.
Kolokoltsev's comments come after his ministry collated crime data for? both cities.
He also praised the? practice of? using sniffer dogs at? the entrance to? the Moscow metro as a? means of? preventing terror attacks, according to? a statement by? the Interior Ministry. He didn't elaborate.
In? New York, police filled in? Kolokoltsev on? how they deal with unauthorized rallies, gatherings that have become more visible in? Russia.
As conveyed by? the Interior Ministry statement, what he heard was that if any offenses occur during these events, "U.S. colleagues act swiftly, and? all individuals that are implicated in? mass riots are detained."
Kolokoltsev's comments came a week after a global study found that only four in 10 Russians feel safe alone outside at night. The survey by U.S. Gallup ranked Russia eighth from the bottom of a list of 134 countries where residents feel unsafe. At the bottom of the list was Venezuela.
The survey did not focus on Moscow alone but the overall mood in the country. Gallup researchers said Russians' fear of being outside at night has grown in recent years and was directly linked to their low confidence in the police force.
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