Slight drop in serious crimes last year – Police stats reveal

Jan 08, 2013 News

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One hundred and thirty-seven (137) people, including 24 women, were murdered last year, police statistics for last year revealed, even though there was an overall one percent decrease in serious crimes.
The figure for murders which were recorded in 2012 compared with 130 murders during 2011, represented a five per cent increase. Further, of the 137 murders, 62 were of the disorderly type, 11 were committed during armed robberies, 24 were domestic related and nine were execution type. The other 31 are so far undetermined.
It was noted that of the 24 murdered women, 16 were related to domestic violence. In 2011, women accounted 21 of the murders.
According to the police, the total number of reports of serious crimes made during 2012 was 3,777 compared to 3,823 in 2011. Some of the offences monitored were murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
In 2012, there was major increase in robbery under arms. The figure went up by 21 per cent, with 1,065 reports for 2012 compared to 879 in 2011.
According to the police, the statistics indicate an increase of 16 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 30 per cent increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
It was noted that while the police force continues to make efforts to grapple with robberies, police patrols along with community assistance, especially through community policing groups and neighbourhood police personnel, have resulted in significant decreases in the offences of larceny from the person by 21 per cent, burglary by 18 per cent, and break and enter and larceny by 10%.
A total of 111 firearms were recovered by the police during 2012; comprising 28 pistols, 39 revolvers, 31 shotguns and 13 rifles. Also last year, 80 kilograms 586 grams of cocaine were seized during police operations, resulting in 115 cases being made, with a total of 124 persons charged. A total of 131,927 kilograms 909 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) were seized/destroyed, from which 493 cases were made and 540 persons charged.
Deportees…
According to the police in 2012, a total of 750 Guyanese nationals were deported. The involuntary remigrants came from the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Trinidad, Barbados, French Guiana, Suriname, St. Maarten, Curacao, France, Antigua, Jamaica, Holland, Costa Rica, and Spain.
Countries such as the USA (158), Canada (112), Trinidad (128), Barbados (82), and Suriname (234) recorded the highest numbers. The major reasons were for drug-related and other criminal offences, illegal entry, overstaying time, and denial of refugee status.
In relation to traffic, there has been a four per cent reduction in road fatalities for 2012 in comparison to 2011, with 110 fatalities in 2012 compared to 115 during the previous year.
The 110 road deaths last year is the lowest figure recorded in 43 years. Thirty-four (34) pedestrians lost their lives on the roads during 2012. In addition, 18 pedal cyclists, 19 motor cyclists and 20 drivers of motor vehicles also lost their lives.
The highest number of road deaths for last year occurred in “A” Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) where 41 persons lost their lives in 38 fatal accidents. The ‘black spots’ in relation to these accidents were mainly along Lamaha Street, Norton Street, Durban Street, Nelson Mandela Avenue, and between Houston and Eccles as well as Supply and Soesdyke on the East Bank of Demerara.
Speeding continued to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 78 of the 102 fatal accidents during 2012. According to statistics, the other contributory elements were driving under the influence, distracted or inattentive drivers, and the non-compliance with traffic signals.
Traffic enforcement by the police in 2012 resulted in a total of 69,653 cases being made against errant motorists; of this total, 14,877 cases were for speeding.
Last year also continued to see reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage.
During the past year, in addition to its traffic education programme which includes traffic lectures to schools, enforcement operations by the Police Traffic Department have for the most part focused on speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, defective vehicles, unlicenced drivers, inconsiderate driving, reckless and negligent driving, safety belts, cell phone use while operating vehicles, overloaded minibuses and minibus route transgressions.
It was noted that more attention will be paid to outstanding traffic tickets, illegible number plates, parking violations and general moving violations, which have the potential of developing into more serious problems.

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