256. The areas of highest concentration of demobilised soldiers also harbour the largest number of those ex-combatants who did not receive any benefits at all from the DDR programmes, namely RENAMO and underage soldiers. The government has recently stepped in to increase the number of ex-combatants earning pensions by reducing the age limit for eligibility for pension from 18 years to 16 years. This is a laudable initiative. Nevertheless, there are still substantial numbers of ex-soldiers not covered by any safety net. In addition, many of those declared medically invalid have not received any benefits and among those eligible, there are still persons waiting to be paid. 257. Another category of demobilised people with military training comprises those demobilised after doing compulsory military service, for which the age eligibility band is 18 to 35 years. A male person is required to register when reaching the age of 18 years and thereafter he may be called up at any time. In exceptional cases, draftees may be granted exemption from enlisting for military service. In the CRM’s interactive sessions, several youthful participants complained about the call-up and exemption processes. It was noted that the call-up sometimes interrupts schooling, and those who leave jobs on receiving their call-up letters lose their jobs permanently and become unemployed after completing their military service. 258. The CRM confirms that the exemption criteria are not well articulated and advertised, so not many people are able to apply. If exemption is approved, the successful applicant has to pay an annual fee in lieu of doing military service, which most poor draftees cannot afford. Those discharged after completing their compulsory military service have joined the ranks of people with military skills, but limited or non-existent opportunities for employment and lack of pension. The CRM was informed that people in this category may be involved in rising crime levels in the country, as pointed out at the validation workshops. Challenges to the Protection and Promotion of Human Security 259. The CRM confirms that the level of crime in Mozambique is high and rising. A report to Parliament on 29 April 2007 by the Attorney-General, Augusto Paulino, indicated that reported committed crimes had risen by 16 per cent, from 36 257 in 2006 to 41 902 in 2007. At 17 676, Maputo city and Maputo province had the highest recorded number of committed crimes, which represents 42 per cent of the total national crime rate in 2007. Although the level of crime was relatively low in Manica, it rose the highest there, from 621 to 1 140 between 2006 and 2007, an increase of 84 per cent. Robbery was the most common crime, accounting for 63 per cent of the total number of crimes against persons (24 per cent) and against public order (13 per cent). In reaction to the high and rising levels of crime, the former President and the current President both have had to dismiss police chiefs in 2001 and 2008, respectively. Stakeholders decried the apparent ineffectiveness of the police in fighting crime. 105