The Guyana Police Force today (Thursday, June 15, 2017) released its statistics for Crime and Accidents for January to May 2017.
According to the GPF, it has recorded a 5% decrease in serious offences at the end of May 2017, relative to the same period last year, and a 29.3% decrease in fatal accidents.
There was a 27% decrease in Murder with a total 47 murders for the period.
Out of the 47 murders, there were 22 Disorderly type, nine domestic related, eight murders during robberies, four executions and four unknown.
The Force is reporting a 3% decrease in Robbery Under Arms where firearms were used; a 1% decrease in Robbery Under Arms where instruments other than firearms were used; a 1% decrease in Burglary and a 21% decrease in Break and Enter and Larceny.
However, there has been a 14% increase in Robberies where no instruments were used; a 60% increase in Robbery with Violence; a 10% increase in Robbery with Aggravation; a 60% increase in Larceny from the Person and a 10% increase in Rape.
Additionally, 64 illegal firearms have been taken off the streets so far for this year, compared to 29 for the corresponding period last year. The majority of the illegal arms were seized in A Division.
Traffic Management
In respect of Traffic Management, the Force related that there was a 29.3% decrease in fatal accidents.
44 fatalities were recorded at the end of May, compared to 62 for the same period last year.
There was also a 75% decrease in the death of children.
Serious, Minor and Damage accidents were also decreased by 16.4%, 32% and 36.3% respectively.
28,822 cases were made against errant drivers from Jan-May, 2017 of which 7,475 were for speeding, 1,402 for Breach of Conditions of Road Service Licence/Music, 1.040 for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, 732 for using cell-phone while driving, 664 for Breach of Traffic Light Signals and 646 for tinted motor vehicles.
The GPF credited the decrease to the Social Crime Prevention Activities across the country along with its robust traffic enforcement exercises. The large number of firearms seized was credited to an excellent relationship exists between the police and the public.
It also took time out to laud the efforts being made by members of the Cops and Faith Community Network which was launched in September of 2014. The Network it said has so far made 389 interventions for juvenile and young persons who were first offenders of minor offences.
In all the cases, the youths were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/guardians, and the victims, where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.
The Cops and Faith body has also made significant input as it relates to the supervision of the Learner/Drivers Theoretical and Practical Examinations throughout the country as well as marking of the examinations; resulting in a more transparent and fully supervised process in obtaining a Driver’s Licence.
They have also offered counselling to police ranks who experienced traumatic encounters and to victims of serious crimes among others.
