THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) crime statistics for January to February 2012 said that there has been a significant decrease of murders during this year in comparison to the same period last year, 2011.
Police added that a total of 23 murders were recorded at the end of February 2011 in comparison to 17 murders for the similar period this year; a 26% decrease. Of the 17 murders, nine were of the disorderly type, two domestic related, while the other six are so far unknown.
The records revealed that robbery under arms has increased by 34% unto February 2012, with 171 reports compared to 128 during January and February 2011.
The statistics also indicated an increase of 25% in the number of armed robberies involving, the use of firearms, and a 50% increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, in relation to traffic, there has been a 14% reduction in road fatalities at the end of February, 2012 in comparison to the same period last year, with 18 fatalities this year and 21 last year. The year also continues to see significant reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage.
So far, the pedal cyclist is the main category of road users affected, with six such persons having lost their lives on the roads by February this year. Speeding is once more a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 13 of the 17 fatal accidents at the end of February this year.
The GPF is continuing its enforcement activities along with the use of breathalysers and radar guns and traffic education, and at the end of February this year a total of 12,404 cases were made against errant motorists. Of this total 3,151 cases were for speeding.