How fast thugs are back in the street stuns Police chief

La Romana, DominicanRepublic.- National Police chief ManuelCastro on Wednesday said he was astonishedat "how fast offenders regain their freedom" despite government spendingand the efforts on law enforcement.

Castro said thus farthis year authorities have charged 72, 681 offenders in court including morethan 20,000 for robberies and assaults, but crime "remains a plague"in the country still.

He regrets the factthat "Dominican Republic is becoming a violent society" since 51percent of the deaths and injuries come from what he calls social conflicts.

The police chief spokeat a ceremony at East Region Police headquarters where he delivered nine vehiclesand 13 motorcycles, to increase patrols across the province.