– 5% decrease in murders but 10%
increase in gunpoint robberies

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday reported that at the end of November 2014, they recorded an 11% drop in serious crimes when the period January 01 to November 30, 2014 is compared with the corresponding period in 2013.

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

Police added that a total of 127 murders were recorded at the end of November 2014 in comparison to 133 murders for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 5%, police added.

At the end of November 2014, robbery under arms overall had increased by 6% in comparison to the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 10% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 2% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

INCREASE IN ROAD FATALITIES
In relation to traffic, 130 road fatalities from 121 accidents have been recorded at the end of November 2014, in comparison to 100 fatalities from 92 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 32% increase in fatalities.

The other categories of accidents – serious, minor and damage – have seen reductions unto the end of November this year, in comparison to same period last year.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 57 such persons having lost their lives at the end of November 2014. In addition 24 motorcyclists, 18 pedal cyclists, 13 drivers, 17 persons travelling in motor vehicles and one person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.

Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 75 of the 121 fatal accidents recorded at the end of November 2014.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 61,853 cases being made against errant motorists up to the end of November 2014; of this total, 17,493 cases were for speeding.

Meanwhile, one person to date has lost his life due to a fatal accident during December 2014.