Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn on Friday reported that there was a 6.9% decrease in serious crime last.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Benn announced the statistic during his contribution to the 2021 budget debate in the National Assembly.
Benn said the reduction is based on the effects of the ‘stay-at-home’ imperative necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that robbery, armed robbery, robbery with violence, breaking and entering and larceny and burglary all saw decline, but murder increased by 13%.
DPI said Benn also reported that the year-to-year figures for 2021 has shown a decline in serious crime by 40.3 per cent when compared to the same period last year. He said the increase in vehicles, motor cycles and beat patrols and the improved keenness of police ranks also contributed to the decrease. “The reduction is due to provision by the government resources in the form of 45 motor cycles and support of vehicles and loans from government agencies along with better use of surveillance cameras and intelligence show the efficacy of this,” he was quoted as saying.
