THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported that for the period January 1 to October 31, this year, crimes of robbery under arms have increased 15 percent, from 744 in 2011 to 854 in 2012.

The statistics show that armed robberies involving the use of firearms at the end of October were 512 as compared to 468 for the same time in 2011, nine percent more.
There was also a rise in the number of robberies where weapons other than guns were used by perpetrators, from 276 to October 2011 to 342 October 2012, twenty-four percent more.
A total of 113 murders were recorded at the end of October 2011, as compared to 114 for the similar time this year, difference of one percent. Of the 114 murders, 50 were of the disorderly type, seven were committed during armed robberies, 23 domestic related and nine execution type, while the other 25 were, so far, undetermined.
An overall decrease of percent in serious crimes was recorded at the end of October this year, in comparison to last year. The total number of serious crimes reported by October 31 this year was 3,160 in comparison to 3,229 at the end of October 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.
Meanwhile, in relation to traffic, there has been a reduction of 8.1 percent in road fatalities up to the end of October this year in comparison to the same period last year, with 90 this year and 98 last year.
The year also continues to see less categories of traffic accidents, with pedestrians being the main road users affected. Twenty-seven persons lost their lives on the roads by the end of October this year. In addition, 17 pedal cyclists, 17 drivers of motor vehicles and 12 motorcyclists have also died up to October this year.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 63 of the 83 by October this year.
Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 56,809 cases being made at the end of October 2012 and, of those, 12,218  were for speeding.
Four road fatalities have occurred, so far, for the month of November 2012.