Officials of the Ministry of the Interior refute the information that the crime rate in Moldova is increasing. They say the number of serious crimes over the first 11 months of the year declined compared with the corresponding period last year, Info-Prim Neo reports. Ion Bodrug, deputy head of the Police Department, told a news conference that 182 criminal cases over murder had been started by December 1, by over 8% less on last year. “The serious and extremely serious offenses have decreased in number this year,” he stated. In the same news conference, Marin Maxian, head of the General Public Order Police Division, said that over 3,700 arms were imported into Moldova in 2011. The rise is insignificant compared with 2010. “A series of guarding organizations and law enforcement bodies changed the equipment and a part of the imported guns were intended for them,” he said. According to the Ministry of the Interior, in Moldova there are over 52,000 owners of guns at present, up 1.63% from last year. A large number of the gun holders form part of the Hunters and Fishermen Association, which has over 15,000 members. The persons with a criminal record cannot obtain a permit to carry guns.