The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported an overall increase of 5% in serious crimes at the end of the January-July 2013 period compared to the same period in 2012. The total number of reports of serious crimes between January 1 and July 31, 2013 was 2,316 compared to 2,204 for the same period in 2012.
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 72 murders were recorded at the end of July, compared to 75 for 2012, a 4% decrease, police said in a press release. Of the 72 murders this year, 32 were of the disorderly type, 14 were committed during armed robberies, 1 was execution-type and 9 were domestic related, while 16 are undetermined.
At the end of July 2013, the statistics also indicated a decrease of 2% in robbery under arms overall, with 585 reports compared to 599 for the same period in 2012; however there was an increase of 3% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 10% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
The force noted that in relation to traffic, there has been an increase of 10 road fatalities at the end of July 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, with 61 fatalities from 58 accidents in 2013 compared to 51 fatalities from 49 accidents in 2012.
The release said that so far, pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 21 such persons dying as a result of accidents. In addition, 11 motorcyclists, 10 pedal cyclists, 7 drivers of motor vehicles, 2 pillion riders and 10 passengers of motor vehicles have also died.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 43 of the 58 fatal accidents recorded at the end of July 2013.
So far in August, two persons have died from two fatal accidents, the release added.
