THE Guyana Police Force has recorded a 46.6 per cent decrease in serious crimes and a 19 per cent decrease in fatal accidents for the period January 1 to March 5, 2021.

In 2020, there was a 14% increase in road fatalities and 5.9% decrease in serious crimes. This is according to Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, who made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference, on Thursday last, at the National Cultural Centre.

“Indeed, while police have no direct control over crime, no effort was spared to exercise crime control by utilising methods of prevention and detection,” the Top Cop told his officers.

Serious crimes include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from a person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Meanwhile, in touching on the issue of fatal accidents, Hoppie said speeding continues to be a major contributing factor and resulted in 106 fatal accidents of 2020.

Hoppie said that driving under the influence of alcohol, distracted or inattentive driving and non-compliance to traffic signals and road markings are also among the contributing factors.

Drug Control
The Top Cop disclosed that during 2020, the police seized some 490 kilograms of cocaine, which resulted in 29 cases being made and 30 persons being charged and placed before the court. He stated that this was done through the establishment of frequent stop and search patrols, as well as divisional checkpoints that were set up to aid in drug control.

Hoppie added that 809kg of marijuana were also ceased and destroyed, of which 313 cases were made and 423 persons charged.
“Along with intensified collaboration with local, regional and international law enforcement agencies, we will continue to maintain our focus in the fight against illicit drugs,” he said.

He further stated that the police have intensified its fight against trafficking in persons and domestic violence. He said that the force is continuing its multi-agency approach to create policies that would enable them to innovate ways to combatting this social ill.
According to the top cop, training sessions are held with ranks to keep them in line with the correct standard practices for handling issues of trafficking in persons and domestic violence.

“In relation to domestic violence, the forces’ zero tolerance approach in policy teaches that no rank can settle any matter but must take appropriate action leading to the matter being placed before the court. We are aware that the government, in addressing such crimes, has established a 914 domestic hotline where persons can seek assistance, and we have been working to ensure that those matters are handled according to the law,” Hoppie explained.

He assured that the police force will continue to work diligently to promote security through raids, roadblocks, robust anti-crime patrol, and intelligence network bolstered by divisional anti-crime units and analytical work by way of data collection through the integrated crime information system.