TEHRAN -- There has been a rise of 45% in the number of juvenile delinquents detained across the country over the past four years, the national police chief announced here.

“Juvenile arrest across the country increased by 40%-45% during the years 1384 -1388 (2005-2009),” Esmaeil Ahmadi Moqadam said.
Stressing the importance of religion in societies' crime reduction, Ahmadi Moqadam described Iran's social crime rate as low compared with other countries around the world.
The national police chief, referring to the Iranian students' addiction rate, called it inconsiderable.
According to Ahmadi Moqadam, psychoactive drug abusers account for 4% of the country's addiction rate.