Despite armed robberies increasing by 21% at the end of December 2012 in comparison to 2011, the Guyana Police Force is reporting an overall decrease of 1% in serious crimes for the last year.
There were 1,065 armed robberies last year, compared to 879 for 2011, police said in a press release. The statistics also indicated a 16% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 30% increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
The force noted that while it continues to make efforts to grapple with robberies, police patrols along with community assistance through Community Policing Groups and Neighbourhood Police personnel have resulted in significant decrease in the offences of larceny from the person by 21%, burglary by 18%, and break and enter and larceny by 10%.
At the same time, the force also noted that the total number of reports of serious crimes made during 2012 was 3,777 compared to 3823 in 2011.
Some of the offences monitored are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
A total of 137 murders were recorded for 2012, in comparison to 130 murders during the year 2011; a 5% increase.
Of the 137 murders, 62 were of the disorderly type, 11 were committed during armed robberies, 24 domestic-related and 9 were execution-type, while the other 31 are so far undetermined.
During 2012, 24 of the murder victims were women and 16 of the cases were domestic-related in comparison to 2011, when 34 of the murder victims were women and 21 of the cases were domestic-related.
A total of 111 firearms were recovered by the police during 2012; 28 pistols, 39 revolvers, 31 shotguns and 13 rifles.
In relation to traffic accidents, there has been a 4% reduction in road fatalities for 2012 in comparison to 2011, with 110 fatalities in 2012 compared to 115 during 2011. One road fatality has been recorded so far for January 2013, compared to one for the same period last year.
Meanwhile, in 2012, 80.586 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized during police operations, resulting in 115 cases being made, with a total of 124 persons charged. The statistics also indicated that 131,927.909 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa were seized/destroyed, from which 493 cases were made and 540 persons charged.
