THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) Thursday reported that at the end of January 2015, they recorded a 12% drop in serious crimes in comparison to January, 2014.   A total of 12 murders were recorded at the end of January 2015 in comparison to 17 murders for January 2014, a decrease of 29%, according to a police press release.
At the end of January 2015, robbery under arms overall had decreased by 28% in comparison to January 2014. The statistics indicate a decrease of 28% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 27% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

There has also been substantial decreases in the occurrences of burglary and break and enter and larceny with 15% and 18% respectively.

Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.
TRAFFIC
In relation to traffic, five road fatalities from five accidents have been recorded at the end of January 2015, in comparison to 11 fatalities from 10 accidents for the same period in 2014; a 55% decrease in fatalities.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with three such persons having lost their lives at the end of January 2015. In addition, one pedal cyclist and one person travelling in a motor vehicle also lost their lives.

Inattentiveness has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents so far, having been the cause of three of the five fatal accidents for January 2015.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 5,022 cases being made against errant motorists at the end of January 2015; of this total 43 cases were for using cell phones while driving, 82 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 1,234 cases were for speeding.

Six persons e lost their lives in five fatal accidents during January,2015.