THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday disclosed that there has been a 15% drop in serious crimes, as it released statistics in relation to the offences of murder and robbery under arms for the period January 1 to December 31, 2014, with corresponding statistics for the same period in 2013.

The police in a release stated that 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.

A total of 147 murders were recorded at the end of December 2014 in comparison to 155 murders for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 5%.

‘During this year the Police Traffic Department will be intensifying its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences such as using motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving’

At the end of December 2014, robbery under arms overall had increased by 5% in comparison to the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 11% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 6% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators, the release added.

84 FIREARMS RECOVERED
During 2014 a total of 84 firearms were recovered by the police, comprising 46 pistols, 28 revolvers, nine shotguns and one rifle.

In relation to traffic, 146 road fatalities from 135 accidents have been recorded at the end of December 2014 in comparison to 112 fatalities from 103 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 30% increase in fatalities.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 60 such persons having lost their lives at the end of December 2014. In addition 26 motor cyclists, 20 pedal cyclists, 16 drivers, 23 persons travelling in motor vehicles and 1 person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.

SPEEDING
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 87 of the 135 fatal accidents recorded at the end of December 2014.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 65,475 cases being made against errant motorists up to the end of December 2014, and of this total, 19,075 cases were for speeding.

To date, three persons have lost their lives due to fatal accidents during this month, January 2015.

The generally indiscriminate use of the roads by all categories of road users was a factor that contributed significantly to the spiralling number of fatal accidents last year and the Guyana Police Force is therefore urging that all persons use the roadways in a manner that is cognisant of the five Cs – Care, Consideration, Caution, Commonsense, and Courtesy.

During this year the Police Traffic Department will be intensifying its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences such as using motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving.

INTERACTIVE SESSIONS
At the same time, the Traffic Department will enhance its traffic education programme through Road Safety Talks and other media programmes as well as symposiums and visits to schools and bus/car parks for interactive sessions.

A number of initiatives that were adopted in 2014 will continue this year, including the ‘Name and Shame’ campaign in relation to persons driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of the tow truck in situations where motor vehicles are parked in contravention of the laws, as the Force strives to ensure road safety, the release concluded.