Prostitution, sexual offences among issues facing Region 9

Police Commander for Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Raphael Rose has said that there are a number of issues affecting his district ranging from prostitution to arson and traffic violations as well as sexual offences, which are seeing an increase this year.
He made the disclosure Wednesday evening during this week’s edition of “Police and You”.
For the year so far, the Commander said there has been a decrease in simple arson and break and entry, but there are increases in other areas of crime.
“Other than serious larceny, there have been an increase in not really serious crimes but sexual offences comparing the period last year. This year there were 10 reported cases and last year there were six reported cases,” Commander Rose stated.
He explained that sexual offences were mainly committed by family members, and as such, he and his ranks intended to sensitise persons in the villages about these types of crime.

“If it is the Police’s role to [do] sensitisation? Yes, because we are welfare officers at some stage and if we can avoid these offences…, then yes, we have that role,” the Commander stated.
He explained that they have started working closely with the Welfare and Child Care Protection to curb this issue.
“So, we need more, like the child protection agency more equipped in terms of transportation and areas where they can house victims that have been affected, because, in most cases, the victim has to remain in the same house with the father other than if the Police step in,” Rose said.
He also noted that contrary to popular belief, the region faces its fair share of traffic violations.
“What we would’ve observed is they are riding the Brazilian number plate motorcycles and we start doing some sensitisation along with going to the villages to let them understand that riding those motorcycles in Lethem and they would’ve been involved in an accident, then they have no compensation, because it doesn’t register in Guyana,” the Commander explained.
Meanwhile, while he did not get into much detail, the Commander revealed that there were several reports of prostitution in the region and these were being addressed.