DEPUTY Superintendent of Police and Divisional Detective of ‘B’ Division, Terrence Paul, has reported a 19% decrease in the most serious crimes in that division during an exclusive interview with this newspaper recently.

Paul indicated that based on the division’s checks and balances, the period between January and October of this year has seen considerable decrease in the rate of serious crimes committed in the division, compared to the same period in 2013.

There have also been decreases in the most prevalent offences in the country, and by extension the division; namely, break and enter and larceny, according to the senior police officer.

The division has also recorded decreases in incidents of rape and robbery-with-violence, Paul said.

With respect to the fight against cultivation, sale and use of illicit drugs, Paul believes that the division is on top of its game to some extent, given the many discoveries, raids and prosecutions being carried out.

He said that ranks, especially those on patrol, have been working in the division for some time now, and are familiar with the various hideout points and other places where drug pushers would operate and congregate. Those places are raided and, based on intelligence, the police often become aware of places where cannabis is cultivated; and those areas are visited, fields destroyed, and offenders taken into custody and placed before the courts after they are charged.

The police have also been increasing their presence in areas where they found that crimes are being committed frequently, and many times there are the raids which net items which had been illegally obtained, and in some cases those items include unlicensed weapons.

The Corentyne Coast is the area that poses most problems for the police with respect to criminal activities, and according to Deputy Superintendent Paul, a very condign approach has been adopted to address the issues, while not offending he law-abiding citizens.

The division has listed the Corentyne as the most troubled area, while in New Amsterdam the police have been able to get a ‘handle on things’ which has seen a reduction in serious crimes. The reason for that has been the prevalence of ranks in almost every street via way of patrol.

With respect to the Corentyne, the areas are stretched out and very hard to police, even as the division has been coming up with various methods to address deficiencies whenever those arise, and loopholes are discovered.

On the West Coast of Berbice, the B Division police have also been having some issues there, especially, with regard to break and entry crimes. Recently, however, the police have been able to bring the situation there under control with some new methods of policing the various communities along the area.

Another plus for the police in ‘B’ Division is its successful efforts in soliciting the help of the general public in sharing information with the police. That has, however, had its limitations, as some people would share information with the cops and other would report matters. But because of the slothfulness of the judicial system, and out of fearfulness, it becomes a challenge to have those same persons come forward and give evidence in court.

In regard to the judicial system, many persons have been opting to settle matters out of court, and would sometimes approach the police to facilitate the process; but according to Paul, that is never encouraged by the police, and the matters are sent to the court for the decision to be made there.

According to the Divisional Detective, the police are looking to achieve a 50% rate in crime solving in the division, but it all comes back to the witnesses cooperating and the information flowing, but that does not often happen, he added.

Repeat offenders pose a huge challenge for the division, and most crimes in the division are being committed by persons aged between 17 and 27. However, the police in the division have vowed to continue their fight against crime, as they strive to serve and protect the citizenry.