– increases recorded in rape, armed robbery, gun seizure
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum
Guyana has recorded a decrease in murders for 2024 so far, but there have been increases in other serious crimes.
This is according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who at the time was addressing the gathering at the launch of the Guyana Police Force’s Christmas Policing Strategy on Thursday at the Annex of the Police Officers’ Mess in Young Street, Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown.
During his presentation, the Crime Chief provided an analysis of crime trends for the year, focusing on key areas such as murders, robberies, illegal firearms, and the GPF response to these issues.
One of his most significant revelations was the decrease in the number of murders in 2024, with 100 homicides having been reported up to November 11. This marks a decrease from the previous years, and for 2020, when 157 murders, the highest rate in recent history, was recorded.
Blanhum has described the reduction in homicides as a positive development, but has cautioned that the overall crime picture remains concerning.
“The release of these crime statistics is in no way intended to indicate that there is no crime in our country. For emphasis, let me repeat: the Guyana Police Force recorded 1,042 serious offences for this year, as opposed to 1,217 reports last year,” he detailed.
The decline in murders is encouraging, but the Crime Chief has highlighted that the vast majority of homicide victims in 2024 were male.
“88 per cent of the victims of homicide were males, while the remaining 12 per cent were females,” Blanhum noted as he reflected on the ongoing gender disparity in violent crime.
Robbery, gun crimes on the rise
Although there has been a decrease in murder, Blanhum noted, there have been increases in other violent crimes, particularly robberies. Gun robbery has seen an 11 per cent rise in 2024, and this is a worrying trend, given that the police have made efforts to remove illegal firearms from circulation.
“We continue to see a rise in gun-related robberies,” the Crime Chief declared, as he added that the police are making significant strides in removing firearms, but continue to face challenges with the prevalence of these weapons in the criminal underworld.
In addition to gun-related robberies, aggravated robberies rose by 3.3 per cent, contributing to the uptick in violent crime.
“The rise in robberies and aggravated robberies (is) linked to the growing use of firearms in (commission of) these offences,” Blanhum explained.
He has described these increases as concerning, especially given the broader context of crime reduction efforts across the country.
Burglaries and larcenies
Blanhum also discussed the challenges of burglaries and larcenies which have remained prevalent in Guyana. He said the police recorded a 15.3 per cent increase in burglary cases in 2024, which underscores the persistent threat of property crime.
“Break-and-enter/larceny remains one of the most prevalent crimes in the country,” Blanhum has said, noting that while there was a slight decrease in larceny from the person, it continues to be a significant issue, particularly in crowded urban areas.
Larceny from the person and other thefts also remain concerning, with many crimes targeting individuals in busy shopping areas, markets and streets. These crimes often occur in areas where people are distracted or are vulnerable, he said, and the police continue to work on educating the public about personal security.
Rape and sexual offences
Rape and other sexual offences are also on the rise, and Blanhum has reported an 8.3 per cent increase in rape cases in 2024. From January 1 to November 11, a total of 195 cases have been reported, compared to 180 being reported for the corresponding period in 2023.
“We continue to see an alarming rise in sexual violence, and this is something we are committed to addressing with both enforcement and outreach,” he said.
Illegal Firearms
The Crime Chief also touched on the GPF’s efforts to reduce the flow of illegal firearms into the country. He said the police seized a significant number of firearms in 2024, but the rise in gun-related crimes indicates that these efforts are far from sufficient. He reported that a total of 162 firearms were taken off the streets in 2024, while 157 were seized in 2023.
“We are working to remove illegal firearms from circulation, but gun violence remains a significant concern,” Blanhum disclosed as he called for continued vigilance and stronger enforcement to tackle this issue.
While the police have made significant strides in disrupting firearms trafficking, the sheer volume of guns still in circulation poses an ongoing challenge, he explained.
“Despite our efforts to reduce gun violence, we are still seeing a rise in gun-related robberies,” he said.
Trends in Regional crime
Blanhum has also highlighted regional variations in crime, with Region 4A (Georgetown) continuing to report the highest level of criminal activity. However, Region #6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) has seen a surprising shift in crime patterns.
“Region 6 has never tied with Region 4A for having the highest concentration of serious crimes,” Blanhum remarked, but the rise in gun robberies and other violent offences in Region 6 has been described as “unprecedented,” with robberies and burglaries in that region nearly being doubled compared to the previous year.
Blanhum assured that the police are responding to these shifts with targeted operations and strategic interventions.
“We are actively addressing the situation with specialized patrols and strategic interventions (in order) to bring the situation under control,” he stated.
The crime statistics for 2024 present a mixed picture for Guyana. While there is some cause for optimism due to the decrease in murders, the increase in gun-related robberies, aggravated crimes, burglaries, and sexual offences indicates that much work remains to be done.
Blanhum has acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the GPF, but has emphasized that the battle against crime is far from over.
“We continue to build capacity, engage with key stakeholders, and rely on our community policing services,” Blanhum has said.
He has explained that the Guyana Police Force is gearing to increase patrols and implement crime prevention strategies to ensure public safety during the Christmas holidays. However, the challenges of the 2024 crime trends would likely require continued attention and resources moving forward. (LaWandaMcAllister)
