STATISTICS released by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday reveal that there has been an 11 percent reduction in serious crimes thus far for the year, as compared to the same period last year.

The 11 percent drop reflects crimes committed between the period of January 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014 and for the same period for 2013.

Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Thus far a total of 119 murders were recorded at the end of October 2014 in comparison to 111 murders for the same period in 2013, an increase of 7%.

At the end of October 2014, robbery under arms overall increased by 8% in comparison to the same period in 2013.

The statistics also indicate an increase of 13% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 1% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

For 2014 up to the reporting period, there were 674 reported robberies with the use of firearms while in 2013 there were 596 reported cases.

As it relates to murders, ‘F’ Division reported the highest figures for the year with a total of 34 thus far for 2014, compared to 29 for the same period last year.

In ‘A’ Division there were 31 murders compared to 36 for the same period last year, 18 in ‘B’ Division for 2014, 16 in 2013, ‘C’ Division, 17 for 2013 and 18 for 2014, ‘E’ Division, 2 for 2013 and 3 for 2014, and ‘G’ Division, 2 in 2013 and 5 in 2014.

Of the 119 murders, 33 were committed under disorderly circumstances, 23 in domestic circumstances, 22 as a result of robbery and 4 execution style. (GINA)