THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported an overall decrease of eight percent in serious crimes recorded at the end of March this year, in comparison to last year. The total number of reports of serious crimes by March 31, 2012 was 968 as compared to 1053 at the end of March 2011, the GPF reported in a statement earlier this week. Offences monitored include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
There is also a continuous decrease in murders during this year in comparison to the same period last year. Thirty three murders were recorded at the end of March 2011 in comparison to 28 for the similar period this year; a 15% decrease. Of the 28 murders, 13 were of the disorderly type, six were domestic related and one was of execution type, while the other eight are so far unknown.
The report noted that robbery under arms has increased by 21 percent up to the end of March 2012, with 246 reports compared to 203 for the same period in 2011. The statistics indicate an increase of 14 percent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 34 percent increase in armed robberies in which instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
With regard to traffic incidents, there has been a 15 percent reduction in road fatalities at the end of March this year in comparison to the same period last year, with 22 fatalities this year and 26 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, pedal cyclists are the main road users affected with seven such persons having lost their lives on the roads by the end of the three – month period. Additionally, six drivers and five pedestrians have also lost their lives.
Speeding is once more a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 14 of the 21 fatal accidents at the end of March.
By the end of March this year a total of 17,974 cases were made against errant motorists; of this total 4,411 cases were for speeding; nevertheless, the Force is continuing its enforcement activities along with the use of breathalysers,  radar guns and traffic education.