Police Regional Division 4A (Georgetown) has recorded a 30% decrease in serious crime and an overall 47% clearance rate for this year, Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean has disclosed.
“We are more visible. We were able to put out over 8,900 patrols this year. This, coupled with the significant increase in our intelligence-led road blocks and operations, we were able to decrease the crimes in the division,” McBean said on Friday during his address at the Region 4A end of year thanksgiving and awards ceremony.
According to McBean, the Region 4A Division accounts for almost 40% of the country’s crime. The division spans from Cumming’s Lodge to Agricola.
He said 2022 has been a challenging but eventful year and noted that the reduction is the second highest recorded over the past ten years.
For the year thus far, McBean said there were 21 murders, compared to 36 in 2021.
“Most notable is our ability to make a change in our murder rate. Last year this time we recorded 36 murders with a 30% increase in our murders within the Division, this year we recorded 21 murders which takes us close to a 50% decrease in our murders,” he noted.
Additionally, there has also been a 66% decrease in street crimes, which McBean said has been one of the areas that has plagued the division over the years.
Over 26 illegal firearms were removed from the streets and 80 kilogrammes of cannabis along with 3.4 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized this year, McBean added.
He said ranks from the division investigated over 17,000 reports, which resulted in 3,550 persons being charged.
Additionally, over 4,200 persons were taken before the court for traffic violations.
With support from acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, McBean said the division’s vehicle fleet increased from 4 to 15 vehicles and 6 to 33 motorcycles for anti-crime purposes.
An additional 9 vehicles were added for the Christmas season, he said. “This increased vehicle fleet put us in a better position to execute our policing plan. We are more visible…We have also shortened our response time,” McBean noted.
The successes, according to McBean, could not have been achieved without the dedication and hard work of ranks within the division. “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you all the Division for without you we could not have achieved this,” he told the ranks gathered.
Best Cop
This year, Superintendent Chabinauth Singh copped the Division’s Best Cop award. He is also the force’s overall Best Cop.
Singh is stationed at Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Brickdam. He played a major role in investigating and solving some of this year’s high-profiles cases, including the fatal stabbing of goldsmith Kareem Kayum, which occurred at the Muslim Youth Organisation ground along Woodford Avenue in August and the alleged robbery and abduction of taxi driver, Joshua Singh.
His prizes included cash, a trophy and a trip to Kaietuer Falls, compliments of Roraima Airways.
The Runner-Up Best Cop was awarded to Corporal Small, who is attached to the Court Prosecutors’ Office in the Division and has achieved a 75% conviction rate for this year, the highest within the department.
Numerous other ranks from various departments within the division were also awarded for their work throughout the year.
