-increase in road fatalities recorded

DESPITE mounting concerns regarding the crime situation in Guyana, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has recorded a 19 percent decrease in serious crimes at the end of the first quarter of this year, relative to the same period last year.This is according to a statement issued by the police force on Tuesday, which also added that there was an increase in road fatalities up to April of this year, relative to last year.

As it relates to crimes for the first quarter of this year, there was a nine percent reduction in reports of murder; nine percent decrease in gun-related robberies; eight percent decrease in armed robberies; 38 percent decrease in robberies with violence; 38 percent decrease in robberies with aggravation; 18 percent decrease in rape; and 22 percent decrease in break and enter and larceny.

And this reduction, the force reasoned, is credited to several initiatives taken by the Government and GPF to manage the crime situation. The first among these is capacity building in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that is now manifested in perpetrators of high profile crimes being arrested within two to three days of their occurrence.

Secondly, the social crime prevention programme and the force’s anti-crime patrol systems, as well as Government’s policy initiatives are developing the public trust and reducing the fear of crime in the Guyanese society, the GPF said. “Our partnership programmes with civil society organisations and our collaboration with local and foreign law enforcement agencies have also served to strengthen the capacity of the Guyana Police Force. The continuous exposure of our ranks to training both locally and internationally has served to develop the Force’s ability to deliver at the frontline level, at management level and at leadership level” the statement said.

Presently, twelve Assistant Superintendents of the Police Force are attached to the Dade County Police, Miami, for a period of three weeks. This training, the force said, is likely to expose them to a First World approach on designing tactics and delivering on frontline functions. Unfortunately however, the police force did not record the same successes in the area of Traffic Management.

At the end of April of this year, 44 road fatalities, which is nine more for than the same period last year, was recorded. But, the force was keen to note that while there was an increase in minor and damage accidents, there was a reduction in serious accidents.

Additionally, the Guyana Police Force has charged 25,118 persons with traffic offences so far this year. This includes 9,140 for speeding and 696 for driving under the influence.

And as Guyana gears up for its 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations this month, the force has planned a number of initiatives that include additional manpower deployment, particularly in tourist hotspots. As such, all Annual Vacation Leave due to ranks will be suspended for the month.

Further, it was noted that there will be increased patrols along the East Bank Demerara corridor and other major arteries; increased collaboration with the Force’s auxiliaries and other partners; increased vigilance at all the Ports of Entry; increased Immigration deployment at the Ports for the faster processing of passengers; escorts and close-protection will be provided for VIPs; efforts to maintain traffic enforcement to prevent congestion and deal with drunk driving and speeding; and “Operation Dragnet” activities that benefit from Joint Services collaboration will increase.