THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a release yesterday, announced an overall four percent decrease in serious crimes up to September, as compared to the same period last year. The total number of reports of serious crimes made by September 30 this year was 2785 compared to 2889 at the end of September last year. Some of the offences monitored are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping, the GPF said.
In terms of murder, there has been a seven percent decrease as September 2011 saw a recorded figure of 102 compared to 95 this year. These includes: 43 disorderly, six during armed robberies, 20 domestic related, six executive types and 20 undetermined.
On the other hand, robberies under arms increased by 19 percent as of September with 749 reports compared to 627 for the same period in 2011. The statistics indicate an increase of 17 percent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 24 percent increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
In traffic, a seven percent decrease has also been recorded with regards to road fatalities up to the end of September. One road fatality has been recorded so far for the month of October.
The release noted that pedestrians are the main category of road users who are directly affected as 25 out of the 75 road deaths recorded this year. Additionally, 15 pedal cyclists, 11 motor cyclists and 17 drivers of motor vehicles have also lost their lives unto September this year.
Meanwhile, speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 56 of the 75 fatal accidents at the end of September this year. Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 50,592 cases being made against errant motorists by the end of September this year. Of this total 11,035 cases were for speeding.