Reg 6 records 27% increase in serious crime – Divisional Crime Officer

– says Rape tops list with 33 so far for 2024

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has recorded a significant increase in serious crimes in Division Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) with rape topping the list.
This is according to the Crime Officer for the Division, Assistant Superintendent Rawl Nedd, during a recent programme of “Police and You.”
Nedd reported that while 81 serious crimes were recorded in the region last year, that number has already been surpassed this year, and has reached a staggering 103 reported cases. Among these cases, rape – especially statutory rape – stands out as the most prevalent offence contributing to the surge.
“That’s a significant increase, roughly a 27.2% increase in serious crime… but the area that would have caused our figures to reach that significant increase would have been rape, and predominantly statutory rape. Last year we had roughly 17 cases, and for this year, we already have 33 cases… Also, we’ve had four murders this year,” he said.
He added that the police are intensifying their campaigns in hope that it would help to decrease the crime rate in the region.
Nedd also expressed belief that the reason for the increase in rape cases is due to the fact that persons are now coming forward following the police engagement with the public.

“The more we educate persons, the more persons are having confidence in us…We have engaged the public, we have improved, and we are intensifying our outreach campaigns towards sensitizing the public,” Nedd related.
The Crime Officer highlighted several other factors contributing to the rise in criminal activities. He cited instances of break-ins, which numbered 37 this year. He said these often occur due to homeowners leaving their residences vulnerable by either leaving doors unlocked or hiding keys under mats outside their houses.
“We’ve had cases in the Albion district, Number 51, and Canje areas where persons would leave their residence and go to other countries and have persons not looking in on their assets, and they find it broken…those are some of the challenges we are having, but to mitigate these things, we have police walking on the ground, doing checks and talking to neighbours,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, emphasised the importance of investing in security measures such as CCTV cameras to deter and detect criminal activity, particularly for individuals travelling abroad for extended periods.
“Break-and-entry were on the increase, and we put our strategies together to combat that…it was not an alarming one, we are working assiduously with our crime prevention strategies and our pillars to have support from the communities…”, he explained.
Moreover, the Commander expressed concern over the high rate of recidivism among released prisoners, noting that many individuals return to criminal activities within two weeks or less of their release.
In response to these challenges, he highlighted the effectiveness of the “Eyes in the Sky” initiative, which utilises drones to monitor and capture individuals engaging in criminal activities. This initiative has proven successful in tracking down persons attempting to evade law enforcement officers following the commission of crimes. By deploying drones to surveil areas where suspects are believed to be fleeing, authorities can swiftly apprehend them, aiding in crime prevention and community safety.
“We are not targeting anyone, but once we realize that this is happening, these persons will be rearrested, charged, and placed before the court,” Commander Persaud has said.
As crime continues to pose a significant challenge in Region Six, the Guyana Police Force is urging residents to remain vigilant, and take proactive measures to safeguard their homes and communities. (G-9)