THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported an overall decrease in serious crimes for January to June 2012, as compared to the same period in 2011.
In a statement on Monday, the GPF said it received a total of 1,918 such reports for that duration this year, in comparison to 1,980 last year. Among those offences are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and entry and larceny, rape and kidnapping.
The statistics were released as part of the GPF annual publication of information at this time of the year, which also coincides with its anniversary celebrations in the month of July.
While murders recorded for 2011 at this juncture stood at 65, the corresponding 2012 figure is 62, regarded by the GPF as a five percent decrease.
Of the 62 unlawful killings, 29 were considered as in the disorderly category while two were committed during robberies, 10 related to domestic issues, four execution type and the other 17 are yet to be categorised.
The release said, despite the reduction in some crimes, there have been increases in some other areas of unlawful acts. Robbery under arms have risen by a staggering 18 percent, at the end of June, above last year occurrences.

SUCH CASES
For the year 2011, there were 431 such cases while, so far, in 2012, 508 have been recorded. The records also indicate a rise of 13 percent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a 27 percent with weapons other than firearms used by perpetrators.
The GPF also disclosed 30 percent less road fatalities, up to now for the year, as against the number for the same time ending June 2011. For 2012, the incidents are 39 but, this time last year, there were 56.
In relation to other kinds of traffic accidents, such as serious and minor, there continues to be a lessening this year, as compared to last year.
The results have shown that drivers are the ones most affected, as 11 of them have already lost their lives in 2012, together with 10 pedal cyclists and nine pedestrians.
The GPF mid-year report also stated that speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to road fatalities, causing 28 of the 38 deaths recorded for this year, so far.
The Force said in addition to its traffic education programmes, its enforcement activities continue along with the use of the breathalyser and radar guns.
At the end of June 2012, a total of 33,958 cases were made against motorists using those instruments and, of that number, 8,154 were for speeding.