Crime in Region Two declined by 35% – Walrond

Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has recorded a 35 per cent decline in serious crimes, according to Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond.

Walrond made the disclosure during the recent commissioning of the new Anna Regina Police Station, noting that the reduction reflects significant improvements in law enforcement capacity and response.

Serious crimes include offences such as murder, armed robbery, rape and drug trafficking.

Walrond attributed the decline to a combination of increased police presence and enhanced operational resources.

She explained that the strengthening of the Police Force, particularly through the addition of vehicles, has improved response times and overall effectiveness.

“With more vehicles and better mobility, police are able to reach areas in a fraction of the time they previously required. This acts as a strong deterrent to criminal activity,” Walrond said.

She also highlighted the integration of modern technology within the force, including the use of body cameras and the implementation of the Safe City and Safe Country programmes. These initiatives, she said, have significantly improved transparency and accountability in policing.

Additionally, Walrond pointed to advancements in surveillance capabilities, noting that facial recognition technology is now being utilised to identify perpetrators more efficiently.

“We now have cameras that can detect and identify suspects using facial recognition, which reduces trial time and allows us to solve crimes faster. This contributes to our high clear-up rate,” she said.