Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has announced that there has been a major improvement in the crime solving strategy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), despite rumours that the crime rate remains high in Guyana.
Ramjattan, speaking to journalists on Friday, said that Police Force statistics show an almost 16 per cent reduction in crime when compared to 2015.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan
However, the general consensus is that crime is spiralling out of control.
The Public Security Minister explained: “But what has been visible, is an improved crime solving capacity of the Police Force, in all serious crimes and those regarded as non-serious crimes too. That does not mean, however, that there has been sporadic spikes in some weeks, particularly of armed robberies and the Police Force is in and about doing work to see a reduction.”
Meanwhile, Ramjattan opined that it would take more than just the Police Force to put a tap on criminal activities, rather it would take a lot of other social programmes to help curb the situation.
Despite the daily occurrence of criminal activity, the GPF is reporting an 18 per cent reduction in all categories of serious crimes recorded at the end of August 2016.
In its monthly statistics released on Thursday, the GPF said that murder has been reduced by 10 per cent, compared to the same period last year. A similar pattern is seen in robberies.
Gun-related robberies declined by seven per cent, while a 17 per cent decrease was recorded in armed robberies where other instruments were used and a nine per cent reduction in robberies where no instruments were used.
Additionally, it was reported that there was a 19 per cent decrease in robberies with violence along with a 38 per cent decrease in larceny. Furthermore, the Police recorded a 20 per cent decrease in rape and a combined 40 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny, and burglary.
This statistical analysis comes two weeks after acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, reported a 15 per cent decline in serious crimes recorded from January 1 to August 23, compared to the same period last year.
Some 91 murders were recorded for this year, reflecting an 11 per cent decrease from 101 cases recorded in 2015. However, gun-related robberies recorded over the two comparative periods saw a levelling off with 473 cases in both years.
Moreover, there were 32 cases of simple robberies last year compared to 28 as of August 23, and armed robberies with other instruments saw 232 cases last year, compared to 206 this year, also representing an 11 per cent decrease.
In addition, break and enter and larceny recorded a 21 per cent decrease with 1029 cases in the corresponding period last year and only 814 this year.
A total of 46 firearms were seized from January to August 20: 23 pistols, 13 revolvers and 10 shotguns. The highest number of seizures was recorded in A Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) with 20 seizures, while F Division (Interior Locations) followed with 12. In terms of juvenile offenders, to date the Force has dealt with some 321 such cases countrywide, including 189 males and 132 females, who have been spared the ignominy of the Criminal Justice System, due to intervention between the Complainants/Reporter, Victims and Police.
