The Guyana Police Force says it has recorded a 21% decrease in serious crimes at the end of September, 2016 compared to the same period last year.
In a release yesterday, the police said that here was a 9% reduction in reports of murder; a 5% drop in gun-related robberies; a 17% decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were employed; a 15% decline in robberies where no instruments were used; a 25% decrease in robbery with violence; a 4% decrease in robbery with aggravation; a 33% drop in larceny from the person; a 19% fall in rape; a 13% decrease in burglary and a 21% decrease in break and enter and larceny respectively.
Sixty-seven illegal firearms were seized comprising 29 pistols, 21 revolvers, and 17 shotguns.
“The consistent and continuous reduction in all of the above listed serious crimes, is an indication that the strategies are working well, have yielded and will continue to yield positive results, thereby assuring all citizens that their collaborative effort in partnering with law enforcement is vital”, the police said.
In respect of Traffic Management, the police however said that there is an increase, in road fatalities, with 100 deaths recorded at the end of September, which is ten more than the same period last year.
“It must be noted however, that had it not been for the operationalising of “Operation Safeway” in Mid-September, that number would have likely been higher. There was a reduction in serious and minor accidents by 12.2% and 9% respectively”, the police said.
Traffic Enforcement is continuous countrywide with “Operation Safeway” already creating an impact on the operators of all classes of vehicles. Special emphasis is placed on speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and the other areas of concern, the police said.
The police provided the following statistics.
‘Operation Safeway’ September 15 to October 11, 2016
Since this initiative was launched there has been an overall decrease in all categories of accidents.
Fatal accidents decreased by 44.4%
Serious “ “ “ “ 46%
Minor “ “ “ “ 32.1%
Damage “ “ “ “ 36.1%
Five thousand four hundred and three (5,403) cases have been recorded, thus far: 1,712 persons were charged with speeding; 2669 persons were tested for alcohol and 392 were found to be above the limit and were charged with D.U.I; 352 were tested by night and 40 were tested by day.
SPEEDING CASES AS PER DIVISION
The Guyana Police Force has charged 54, 097 persons with traffic offences so far this year. This includes 20,189 for speeding of which 8,947 have been fined; 1,406 for driving under the influence of alcohol of which 719 have been fined and 6 reprimanded and discharged; 2, 338 for overloaded minibus of which 966 have been fined; and 554 for using cell phone while driving of which 309 have been fined.
