The Guyana Police Force has recorded an overall increase in serious crimes by five per cent from January to the end of November, compared to the same period last year.
There were 3,690 reports compared to 3,522 for the same period in 2012, police said in a press release. 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 130 murders were recorded at the end of November 2013 in comparison to 126 murders for the same period in 2012; a three per cent increase. Of the 130 murders this year, 52 were of the disorderly type, 21 were committed during armed robberies, four were execution type and 21 were domestic related, while 32 others are so far undetermined.
At the end of November there was an overall seven per cent increase in robbery under arms, with 1,038 reports compared to 971 for the same period last year. The statistics further indicate an increase by 16 % in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a seven per cent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
With regard to traffic, two more road fatalities were recorded at the end of November 2013, compared to the same period in 2012 with 100 fatalities from 92 accidents in 2013 as against 98 fatalities from 90 accidents in 2012.
Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 37 road fatalities recorded at the end of November. In addition, 16 motor cyclists, 12 pedal cyclists, 14 drivers of motor vehicles, three pillion riders and 18 passengers of motor vehicles lost their lives. However, from January 1 to November 30, there has been a reduction in other categories of traffic accidents: serious, minor and damage.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 65 of the 92 fatal accidents recorded at the end of November 2013. Traffic enforcement by police from January to November resulted in a total of 107,650 cases being made against errant motorists. Of this total, 20,443 cases were for speeding.
