266 killed last year

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

Homicides and road accidents last year snuffed out the lives of 266 persons during 2013, compared to 249 during 2012, police said.

Of the 154 homicides during last year, 24 were domestic related, 61 were related to disorderly behaviour, four were execution-type, 41 so far undetermined and 24 were committed during armed robberies.  For last year, there were 26 domestic related murders, 11 during armed robberies, eight execution-type and 60 during disorderly behaviour.

Police said that when compared to the 139 murders in 2012, there was an 11 percent increase last year.

Still in the area of armed robberies, there was a seven percent increase with 1,132 reports last year compared to 1,058 in 2012.  Police said the statistics indicate an increase of 14 percent increase in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a four percent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

Police also recorded an overall increase of seven percent in serious crimes at the end of December 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012. The total number of reports of serious crimes made between January 01 and December 31, 2013 was 4,007 compared to 3,760 for the same period in 2012. Some of the offences monitored are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.   

In terms of road accidents, there were 112 fatalities from 103 accidents in 2013 compared to 110 fatalities from 102 accidents during 2012. There has been an increase by 2 road fatalities at the end of December 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, with 112 fatalities from 103 accidents in 2013 compared to 110 fatalities from 102 accidents during 2012. The period January 01 to December 31, 2013, saw a reduction in relation to the damage accidents and a six percent and five percent increase, respectively, in serious and minor accidents.
 
Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 39 such persons having lost their lives at the end of 2013. In addition 18 motor cyclists, 13 pedal cyclists, 17 drivers of other motor vehicles, 3 pillion riders and 22 passengers of motor vehicles also lost their lives.
 
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 72 of the 103 fatal accidents recorded at the end of December 2013.  21 of these motorists were found to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time.  
 
Traffic enforcement by the police during 2013 resulted in a total of 84,470 cases being made against errant motorists; of this total 22, 389 cases were for speeding.
 
The figure of 107,650 cases being made during traffic enforcement at the end of November 2013 was incorrect. It should have read as being 78,413 cases. The error is regretted.
 
So far 2 persons have lost their lives on the roads compared to 1 for the same period last year.