The Guyana Police Force yesterday announced a 15% drop last year in serious crimes, although while murders fell by 5%, there was a similar percentage increase in armed robberies.
The force also announced a whopping 30% increase in road fatalities, with some 146 people losing their lives at the end of December, 2014, compared with 112 in 2013.
“Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 87 of the 135 fatal accidents recorded at the end of December 2014,” a statement from the police force said yesterday. It also announced that the Police Traffic Department plans to intensify its enforcement activities this year.
According to the statement, offences listed under the category of ‘serious crimes’ are: murder, armed robbery, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.
The statement revealed that a total of 147 murders were recorded at the end of December, 2014, in comparison with 155 murders for the same period in 2013, representing a decrease of 5%. However, at the end of last year armed robbery had increased by 5% in comparison with the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 11% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a 6% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
Further, last year saw 84 firearms being recovered by the police, comprising 46 pistols, 28 revolvers, nine shotguns and a rifle. In relation to traffic, the statement said 146 deaths were recorded from 135 accidents, with pedestrians being the main road users affected as there were 60 pedestrian deaths at the end of last year.
In addition, 26 motorcyclists, 20 pedal cyclists, 16 drivers, 23 persons travelling in motor vehicles and one person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.
So far for this month, police said three persons have lost their lives due to fatal accidents.
Police also said enforcement resulted in a total of 65,475 cases being made against errant motorists unto the end of December 2014, including 19,075 cases for speeding.
“The generally indiscriminate use of the roads by all categories of road users was a factor that contributed significantly to the spiraling number of fatal accidents last year and the Guyana Police Force is therefore urging that all persons use the roadways in a manner that is cognizant of the five Cs – Care, Considera-tion, Caution, Common Sense, and Courtesy,” the force said.
It was announced that during this year the Police Traffic Department plans to intensify its enforcement activities, with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences, such as using motorcycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving.
At the same time, the Department is expected to enhance its traffic education programme through the Road Safety Talk and other media programmes as well as symposiums and visits to schools and bus/car parks for interactive sessions.
The statement further said that in order to ensure road safety, a number of initiatives that were adopted in 2014 will continue this year, inclusive of the ‘Name and Shame’ campaign in relation to persons driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of the tow truck in situations where motor vehicles are parked in contravention of the laws.
