Police claim 16% reduction

Crime spirals out of control

As crime continues to spiral out of control, the Guyana Police Force is holding out that serious crimes were down by 16 per cent as at the end of November 2016 when compared to the same period last year.original

The Police, in a release, stated that there was a ‘break even’ in reports of murder with a ‘clear up’ rate of 64 per cent. In addition, the Police recorded a six per cent decrease in robbery under arms where firearms were used, with a 15 per cent ‘clear up’ rate.

Also, there was a 17 per cent reduction in armed robberies where other instruments were used by the perpetrators and more so, a 25 per cent decrease was registered with respect to robberies where violence was used.

There was also a nine per cent decrease in robbery with aggravation and a 14 per cent decrease in robberies where no instruments were used, while a 32 per cent decrease in larceny from the person was recorded.

Additionally, there was a 21 per cent decrease in rape; a 20 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny, with a 20 per cent ‘clear up’ rate and finally, the Police recorded a 12 per cent reduction in burglary.

With respect to the seizure of firearms, the Police were able to clean the streets of 96 unlicensed weapons, including 42 pistols, 28 revolvers, 24 shotguns, and two rifles.

The Police stated that the continuous monthly reduction in serious crimes was nothing but a testimony to the excellent collaboration among the many stakeholders and the public at large, coupled with the strategies employed by the Force. Nevertheless, the public believes that with crime being perpetuated on a daily basis, the crime situation in Guyana is unbearable.

Only Monday morning, a Corentyne cambio dealer was robbed of millions as gunmen armed with AK-47s invaded his property. The Police arrived at the scene more than one and a half hours after the 30-minute ordeal. Several other armed robberies were recorded where the victims were severely beaten by the perpetrators.

With respect to traffic, the Police recorded an 11 per cent increase in fatal accidents. There were 115 fatalities recorded at the end of November, compared to 112 for the same period last year.

However, there were decreases in serious and minor accidents, but an increase in damage accidents.

Meanwhile, the Police have instituted charges against 65,357 errant drivers for several traffic offences, with 55 per cent of the total ordered to pay fines.

Of the total charges, 24,276 were for speeding; 3416 were for breach of condition of road service licence/music; 2721 for driving under the influence of alcohol; 1272 for using a cell phone while driving; 1236 for breaching traffic light signals and 1211 for tinted motor vehicles.