TOKYO -- Japan's reputation as a safe nation suffered a blow as the National Police Agency (NPA) said reports of crimes had surged 16 percent in the first half of this year to almost 1.3 million, while the number of arrests declined to an all-time low, AFP reported on Friday.

There were 1,288,381 reports of crimes in the first half of 2001, up 15.9 percent from the same time last year, said in a semi-annual report. In the same period, the arrest rate fell to 19 percent from 25.3 percent a year earlier, said an NPA spokesman, who declined to give his name. It was the lowest arrest rate since records began, he said, but was unable immediately to say when that was.

"The number of serious crimes -- which are defined as murder, robbery, rape and arson -- rose to 5,413 from 4,712 in the same period last year," the spokesman said.

"The number of less serious crimes, such as assault and extortion, also rose to 34,104 from 26,927," he said.

The overall rise of the number of crimes was mainly because of a sharp rise in thefts, such as burglary and bicycle theft, the NPA survey showed.

"The number (of thefts) rose to 1,108,269 cases from 977,846 in the same period last year," the spokesman said.

News reports quoted the top NPA officer as saying the arrest rate fell because police officers were unable to cope with the rising number of offences and calls from the public.

"The number of criminal activities is rising at a sharp rate, and (policing efforts) cannot keep up with it," NPA chief Setsuo Tanaka said Thursday in a regular press conference, according to ***Jiji Press***.

"The (current police) organization is not adequate. We must increase the number of officers," ***Jiji*** quoted Tanaka as saying.

Of the total number of crimes, the ones committed by youth aged between 14 and 19 years accounted for 61,414, including 968 serious crimes, the spokesman said.

The number of less serious, but violent crimes, such as assaults, by youths rose to 8,987 from 8,496, the spokesman said.

Youth crime has drawn national attention in Japan, following a slew of bizarre and often unprovoked crimes committed by young people in recent years.

The country is still haunted by memories of a 14-year-old boy in Kobe, western Japan, who chopped off another pupil's head and stuck it on the school gates in 1997.

On Thursday police arrested a 17-year-old member of a motorcycle gang who turned himself in to confess to bludgeoning a Buddhist monk to death with a metal bat Monday night.

Press reports said the boy, was one of about 10 gang members who confronted the 24-year old monk, complaining his car was blocking their way.