Police record whopping 25% increase in robberies

…76 illegal firearms seized

The Guyana Police Force on Friday announced it has recorded a whopping 25 per cent increase in robberies at the end on July 2018 when compared to the same period in 2017.
The Police also recorded a 17 per cent decrease in murder; a seven per cent increase in armed robberies where firearms were used; three per cent increase in rapes and a seven per cent increase in burglary. A seven per cent increase in robbery with violence was also recorded.
Reductions were recorded in robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used; robbery with aggravation; larceny from a person and break and enter and larceny. All in all, the Police noted that it recorded a five per cent decrease in serious crimes.
According to the Police statistics, 58 murders were committed at the end of July 2018 compared to 70 for the corresponding period last year. Of the 58 murders, 25 were as a result of disorderly behaviour, 16 were as a result od domestic dispute, 11 were committed during robberies and the reasons for six are yet to be determined.
Twelve murders each were recorded in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) and C Division (East Coast Demerara); while 11 were committed in B Division (Berbice); nine in D Division (West Demerara-East Bank Essequibo); eight in F Division (Interior locations) and three each in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) and G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands).
The Police Force also noted that it seized a total of 76 illegal firearms at the end of July when compared to 81 in 2017 for the same period. The firearms seized include 44 pistols, 18 revolvers, eight shotguns, one submachine gun and five rifles.
With respect to seizures, A Division topped the list with 34; followed by F Division with 15; and C Division with nine. B Division followed closely with seven; while five firearms were seized in D Division; three in E Division and two in G Division.

Traffic
The traffic department saw a 7.4 per cent decrease in fatal accidents at the end of July 2018 when compared to the same period last year. It also recorded a decrease in serious, minor and damage accidents.
A total of 57 persons were killed as a result of accidents up to July 2018, two less that the same period last year, which signals a 3.3 per cent decrease. Of the 57 persons killed, two were children.
April was listed as the deadliest month with 11 deaths followed by February, March and May with nine deaths each. Seven deaths were recorded in June and six apiece for January and July.
Speeding accounted for 26 of the 57 deaths, while failure to conform to sign were responsible for nine; pedestrians crossing in the path of approaching vehicles claimed eight lives and inattentiveness claimed another six.
One person died as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol/speeding.
In addition, between January and July 2018, the Police made out a total of 52,277 cases against errant drivers. Speeding topped the list with 12,401 cases.