With a “significant” increase in rape offences, Police in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have recorded a 27 per cent rise in reports of serious crimes.
Regional Detective Officer, Superintendent Rawle Nedd said a total of 103 crimes serious crimes reports have been reported for the year so far.
And that reflects a 27 per cent increase when compared to the 81 reports received last year.
“When it comes to crime, we are presently seeing an increase when compared to last year.
“That is a significant increase. Roughly about 27 per cent,” Detective Nedd disclosed during an interview broadcast on the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) ‘Police and You’ programme.
A total of 14 offences including murders, rape, armed robbery, break and enter and larceny fall under the category of a serious crime.
Regional Police Division Six spans from the eastern side of the Berbice Bridge all the way up to the Corentyne River.
Among the crimes committed are four murders and 37 cases of break and enter and larceny.
However, Detective Nedd highlighted that reports of rape has contributed to a “significant” amount of the increase.
This year, he said there have been 33 reports so far, 16 more reports than those received during last year.
To address this, Superintendent Nedd said the Police in the division have intensified outreach campaigns aimed at sensitising members of the public. In fact, he said though this initiative there has been a boost in public confidence and more persons have been coming forward to report crimes.
“The more we educate persons, the more (they are) having confidence in us. They are coming forward to report incidents,” Superintendent Nedd said.
Meanwhile, to address other offences, he said systems have been put in place in keeping with Police Force’s strategic plan.
“Despite we are having the crimes, despite we are on a high comparative to last year, we are have put systems in place and what is not working, we are revising and trying strategies to ensure that it works,” Superintendent Nedd explained.
