‘Police have no direct control of crime’ – Top Cop reports decrease in serious crimes; increase in rape
Declaring that the police have no direct control of crime, Police Commissioner (ag), Nigel Hoppie, on Thursday announced that at the end of June this year, the force recorded an 18.7% decrease in serious crimes compared to the same period last year.
“The fight continues as we interdict criminals and illegal arms and ammunition. The threats of illegal narcotics, domestic violence, and trafficking in persons continue to plague the society and every effort will be maintained as we work assiduously to reduce these threats to society.
“Indeed, while the police have no direct control of crime, no effort is spared to exercise crime control by utilizing methods of prevention and detection of crime,” Hoppie said.
The Police Commissioner was speaking during the Force’s Annual Awards ceremony at the Officer’s Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown; the media was not invited to the event this year, making it the first time this has happened in decades.
Meanwhile, the Top Cop, in a release issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Force, noted that robbery under arms decreased by 36.3%, while there is a 16.7% decrease in murder. A total of 65 murders were reported up to June this year when compared to 78 for the same period last year.
Overall, at the end of June this year, seven women have been the victims of murder compared to 20 for the same period last year. Of the seven victims, six were killed during domestic-related incidents, while of the 20 victims last year 10 were as a result of domestic violence.
While there have been decreases in other serious crimes for the period January to June this year in comparison to the similar period last year, the offence of rape has seen an increase of 70% with figures of 90 last year compared to 153 this year.
In addition, some 112 fields, and 89 acres of marijuana have been located and destroyed and 34 illegal firearms recovered by the police so far this year.
“A lot of good work has been done by the Force in fighting crime.
“Indeed, while the police have no direct control of crime, no effort is spared to exercise crime control by utilizing methods of prevention and detection of crime,” the Police Commissioner noted.
As of July 10 this year, traffic has seen a decrease of 32% in fatal accidents (48 this year with 71 for the same period last year) and a consequential 30% decrease in fatalities (52 this year with 74 last year).
Pedestrians (17) and motorcyclists (12) have been the major categories of road users who have lost their lives on the roadways this year with inattentiveness (21 fatal accidents) and speeding (18 fatal accidents) being the main causes.
Traffic enforcement so far this year throughout the country has resulted in 8,719 cases for speeding, 459 cases for driving under the influence, and 10,188 for unlicensed driver.
