Drug trafficking, domestic murders and cybercrime among major offences — Crime Chief

Disorderly and domestic-related murders, drug trafficking — particularly at border locations — and cybercrime are among the major crimes currently affecting the population.

Property-related crimes, often linked to excessive alcohol consumption, are also on the rise.

Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner Wendell Blanhum made this disclosure on Tuesday during the third episode of the Safeguarding the Nation programme.

Blanhum explained that these trends help guide the priorities of Police operations, with a strong focus on known hot spots.

“The reality is that most crimes are committed by a small minority of the population, which is why most of our attention is focused on key offenders and hot spots,” Blanhum said.

According to him, fear of crime is shaped more by personal experience than statistics. To ensure public safety, he said the Police are focusing on what he described as the three Cs — crime prevention, community presence and collaboration.

To this end, the Police rely on crime data to target hot spots. Blanhum said there has been increased deployment in crime-prone areas to ensure criminal elements do not prey on vulnerable residents. He added that there is also continued collaboration with community groups and international partners to tackle everyday crime and organised crime threats.

“Every crime, no matter how rare, has a real victim, and those stories spread faster than statistics. High-profile incidents — for example, a shooting or robbery — stay in people’s minds and fuel fear. They overshadow the progress we have made.

“We as Police must do more to show the public what has been happening behind the scenes — for example, increased visibility, community awareness and engagement, and public awareness programmes,” Blanhum explained.

He also urged citizens to desist from spreading misinformation.

“Together we can keep our communities safe. We are here to work with you. My message is: we are listening, we are working, and we won’t stop until every Guyanese feels safe,” Blanhum said.