CRIME Chief Leslie James yesterday said that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is committed to building and sustaining public trust. 

He said too that apart from their community projects, the Force is urging members of the general public to report crimes by calling in or writing anonymous notes.

The assistant commissioner explained that the crime situation is manageable and they are continuing their work; however, they need the cooperation of the public. As such, he encouraged members of the public to assist them.

James stated that one of the worrying trends is the seeming ability of some persons to commit crimes such as discharging a loaded weapon and when the police visit the scene, people do not want to talk.

He noted that in many instances persons have witnessed others being shot and they simply do not want to volunteer any information or even identify those persons.

The crime chief said too often gunshots are fired in a community and people are claiming they did not see anything, but we as the police need something to go on to solve those crimes and are asking that the community help us.

James urged citizens to come forward with information or write unsigned notes to the divisional Ccmmanders, or even call in without leaving your name, “give us something to go on, then we’ll take it from there,” he said.

The senior officer told this publication that as an organisation they need to maintain public trust, but noted that it had dwindled over time and they intend to re-gain that trust.

James said they have several community-led projects to engage members of the public as well as the Neighbourhood Watch and divisional commanders meeting with the public and it is all part of many other initiatives they will roll-out to build on their relationship with the public.

He pointed out that the general public responses can be much better and they strive to enhance that in every possible way.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday said statistics in relation to the offences of murder and robbery under arms at the end of February 2015, with corresponding statistics for the same period in 2014 recorded a 4% drop in serious crimes compared with the same period in 2014.

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.

A total of 25 murders were recorded at the end of February 2015 in comparison to 24 murders at the end of February 2014, an increase of 4%.

At the end of February 2015, robbery under arms overall has decreased by 29% in comparison to the same period in 2014. The statistics indicate a decrease of 33% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 22% decrease in armed robberies in which instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.