— 25 per cent decrease in accidents recorded at end of July

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has recorded an 11 per cent decrease in serious crimes due to a number of crime-fighting strategies that it has implemented over the past few months.
According to the police in a press statement, at the end of June 2017, serious crimes decreased seven per cent and later further decreased to 11 per cent at the end of July.

“The continuous engagements with stakeholders over the last two months undoubtedly resulted in a decrease of serious crimes and the reduction in all categories of road accidents and loss of lives,” the force said.

Statistics show that for June, murder decreased by 16 per cent; robbery where no instruments were used increased by four per cent; robbery under arms where firearms where used decreased by five per cent; robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used decreased by four per cent; robbery with violence increased by 64 per cent; and robbery with aggravation increased by three per cent.

Larceny from the person also increased by 53 per cent; rape decreased six per cent; burglary decreased by one per cent; and break and enter and larceny decreased by 19 per cent.

In July, murder decreased 18 percent; robbery where no instruments were used increased four per cent; robbery under arms where firearms were used decreased 17 per cent; robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used decreased four per cent; robbery with violence increased 48 per cent; robbery with aggravation increased 12 per cent; larceny from the person increased 26 per cent; rape decreased 10 per cent; burglary two per cent and break and enter and larceny 20 per cent.

Statistics revealed that the decrease in crime was consistent, despite the prison breaks at the Camp Street and Lusignan prisons within the past two months.
However, in the past two months, in the various categories of murders, four disorderly, 11 domestic, 13 robbery, 32 executions, eight unknown and two others, which totalled 70, were recorded.

Information from the police also noted a general 11 per cent decrease in serious crimes from January-July this year, when compared to 2016.
The figure moved from 1951 in 2016 to 1735 this year.
There was an 18 per cent decrease in murders within the various divisions, but this year ‘A’ Division recorded the most murders, a total of 26 so far, while ‘G’ Division has recorded none for the year.

The cops also recovered 81 illegal firearms, compared to 40 for the corresponding period last year.
In the breakdown for the type of firearms that were found, it was revealed that 51 were pistols, 10 were revolvers, 12 shotguns and 8 rifles.

FATAL ACCIDENTS
Successes were also evident in the area of traffic management as a 27 per cent decrease in fatal accidents was recorded at the end of June 2017 and a further 25 per cent decrease at the end of July 2017.
When compared to January-July 2016, fatal accidents decreased by 25 per cent; death by accident decreased by 23.3 per cent and accidents which claimed the lives of children decreased by 75 per cent, moving from 4 in 2016 to 1 this year during the corresponding period.

“Our enforcement is continuous countrywide with special emphasis on driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, music/breach of conditions of road service licence, overloaded minibuses, use of cellular phones, using vehicle other than licence for (private hire) and failing to wear safety helmet,” the police said.
In addition, the Traffic Department continues its lecture to schools, while there are also visible patrols at school areas to ensure the safety of schoolchildren.

Delinquents have not been spared. Some 41, 170 cases were made, of which 13,362 were for speeding; 2071 for breach of condition of road service license/music; 1211 for driving under the influence of alcohol; 850 for using cell- phones while driving; and 744 for tinted windows.