Crime prevention strategy a work in progress – Benn

…integrity in policing symposium a step in the journey

Prior to taking office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had promised to implement a crime prevention strategy. According to Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, the now governing party will keep its promise and this strategy is a work in progress.

On the sidelines of the inaugural Integrity in Policing Symposium at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the Home Affairs Minister was asked about the strategy. He explained that even before it is released, it will go through various layers of review.
“The work in respect of the security reform for the Guyana Police Force, or issues in relation to the national security strategy, those are being worked at and in due course you will get information on when it will be released,” Benn explained.
“There are several levels of reviews in relation to our plans, but particularly here in setting the basis for how we move forward, getting consensus and agreement in principal approaches and resorts in respect of those plans, begin with these kinds of engagements. So, we’ll get to that point.”
According to Benn, the review of this strategy will involve various facets of society, from the communities to the businesses and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The strategy, he further explained, will not be restricted to the Police.
“I did say we’re having the integrity symposium today and just now we’re moving out further, to stakeholders. Community people, business organisations, NGOs and we’re going to be discussing the overall question of how do we increase the peace in Guyana.”
“Increasing the peace in Guyana doesn’t only have to do with the Police in itself, but with the communities, the towns, the stakeholders, the regions, business people. This is all part of the approach towards a given approach, an outcome,” Benn said.
Back in August, Minister Benn had revealed that there was a 19.3 per cent decrease in serious crime. This percentage represents a year-to-day comparison of statistics from January 1 to July 30, 2020, and January 1 to July 30, 2021. These are not stats that social media was very accepting of and the Minister addressed this.
“In spite of what you are hearing on social media, in spite of the fact that we may not have been paying attention to what was happening in relation to serious crime in 2020… now we can focus and pay attention to issues of crime and to deal and ramp up on those issues so that we can make our country safer,” he had said.
Of the 516 incidences of robbery under arms in 2021, 333 were committed in 2021 which indicates a 35 per cent decrease. A 55.6 per cent decrease has been recorded in robbery with aggravation with 36 incidences in 2020 and 16 in 2021. Break and enter and larceny also saw a decrease of 10.7 per cent with 457 in 2020 and 408 in 2021.
As it relates to larceny from the person, there has been a notable decrease of 46.4 per cent with 69 in 2020 and 37 in 2021. There were 51 cases of robbery with violence compared to 42 in 2021, which represents a decrease by 17.6 per cent.
With 18 robberies in 2020 and 13 in 2021, there has been a 27.8 per cent decrease in this crime. There has also been a steep decrease in burglary of 41.9 per cent with 93 incidences in 2020 and 54 in 2021.
One instance of kidnapping was recorded in 2021 and none in 2020. However, there has been an increase in rape cases with 104 incidences in 2020 and 177 in 2021, reflecting a 70.2 per cent increase. (G3)