7% increase in serious crimes recorded in Region 10

Commander of Regional Division 10, Superintendent Hugh Winter has revealed that there has been a seven per cent increase in serious crime in the division.
Winter was at the time speaking on a recent episode of the Guyana Police Force’s programme “Police and You”.
“This year we have 45 serious crimes and last year we had 42, the percentage is a slight increase of 7 per cent but we’re looking at just three serious crimes for that seven per cent…so we’re trying now to be in the minus.”
However, despite the slight increase in serious crime, the Commander stated that there have not been any reports of serious crimes in the division for the past month.

“For the past weeks there have been no serious crimes, we’re trying to get this figure way own in the negative…so we’re working,” he said, adding that there has been a reduction of sexual offences in the division.
“The sexual offences, I must say its drastically had a reduction in our region and we’re in the minus for sexual offences. The reason behind that minus in sexual offences is because we are actually in the schools, we are speaking to the students, we’re telling them the right from the wrong,” the Commander said.

School outreaches
Commander Winter stated that these various initiatives conducted in the schools of the division not only cover sexual offences but other unwarranted behaviour.
“Last week we were at 3 different secondary schools in the region, we’re advocating to the students about drugs and different offences, we [brought] a person from the sexual unit of division to tell the students about the sexual activities that’s happening in the region and if they are faced with it what to do.”
“We had persons [talk] about the fights in schools, the bullies in school spoke at length to the students along with the teachers,” he said.
The Commander also urged parents to cooperate with the Police Force in this regard.
“I would ask the parents to sit and speak with the children, partner with us as parents. We are not bad people, we are Police and we are here to serve and protect, policemen and women are looking out for the children or adults or each and everyone in the community…we are also here to give advice, bring the children along that we could talk,” he said.