Reduced rates for serious crimes including gun-related robberies and murders continue to be recorded, the Guyana Police Force said yesterday.
A press release said that a 16% decrease in serious crimes has been recorded at the end of May this year, relative to the same period last year.
Figures released at the end of the first quarter of this year showed a 19% decrease in crime when compared with the same period last year.
According to the release, there was a 7% reduction in reports of murder; a 10% decrease in gun-related robberies; 7% decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used by the perpetrators; a 26% decrease in robberies with violence; a 14% decrease in robberies with aggravation; a 27% combined decrease in break and enter and larceny and burglary; a 14% decrease in rape and a 52% decrease in larceny from the person.
The release said that aside from the decreases, robberies where guns or other instruments were not used increased by 17% (from 18 to 21).
“The decrease in the crime rate is no doubt as a result of the initiatives taken by the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Security and the Guyana Police Force, to de-escalate the crime situation. The police are increasingly gaining the public’s trust, resulting in a higher level of information sharing and the solving and prevention of serious crimes, inclusive of murder,” the release said.
It was stated that exposure to training, both locally and internationally, continues to be a top priority at all levels of the force.
With regard to traffic, there has been an increase in road fatalities.
From January 1 to the end of May, 62 fatalities have been recorded; this is 14 more than the figure recorded for the same period last year.
It was stated that while there was a reduction in serious accidents, there have been again, increases in minor and damage accidents. Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and inattentiveness continue to be the main causes of fatal accidents, the release said.
So far 30,788 persons have been charged with traffic offences for this year, this includes 11,302 for speeding and 839 for driving under the influence.
The force used the opportunity to publicly thank all of its ranks who have worked to the best of their abilities and in some cases beyond the call of duty during our 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations and more particularly for “their commitment in realizing a reduction in serious crimes”.
