CRIME in Kuşadası has declined by 20 per cent since the implementation of a public surveillance system.

Kuşadası Local Administrator Mustafa Esen said that with the help of the Mobile Electronic System Integration, or MOBESE, events disturbing the public order have dropped at a rate of 20 percent.

“Kuşadası is the safest and most restful tourism center, according to this data,” said Esen.

“There was a decline of 20 percent concerning events that disturb the public order.”

More than 40 points are monitored 24 hours a day with the help of the system, Esen added.

“All of the vehicles that come to the district have license plates integrated with the polnet system. We are recording 24 hours a day and can access them retroactively, so this makes our security strong. Concerning security in our city, there are no disturbances whatsoever.”

Kuşadası Mayor Fuat Akdoğan said the MOBESE system was causing the crime rate to fall as well as positively influencing tourism in the district.

“Wealthy tourists who visit Kuşadası on cruises do not leave for trips to Efes and the Virgin Mary's House; they tour in the town instead,” he said. “Tourists that participate in organized tours spend more. But this kind of client wants to be left in peace.

“They buy what they like and they don't bargain. Here we have an interesting culture of bazaars, with people passing in front and try to draw these tourists inside the shop with jokes. These tourists do not want that kind of marketing.”

He explained that MOBESE cameras could alert authorities to this style of selling, allowing them to take action against it, which has caused the number of disturbed tourists to plummet to almost none.