Overall reduction in serious crimes, but increased murders, armed robberies

Last Updated on Friday, 8 August 2014, 21:21 by GxMedia

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The Guyana Police Force on Friday reported 10 percent spike in murders and 16 percent increase in robbery under arms but an overall eight percent drop in serious crimes for the first seven months of 2014 compareed to the same period last year.

Following is a summary of the latest crime statistics

The total number of reports of serious crimes made between January 01 and July 31, 2014, was 2,134 compared to 2,317 for the same period in 2013. 

Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

A total of 80 murders were recorded at the end of July 2014 in comparison to 73 murders for the same period in 2013, an increase of 10%. Of the 80 murders committed unto July 2014, 3 were of the execution type, 16 were committed during robberies, 21 were domestic related, 17 were of the disorderly type and 23 are so far undetermined.

At the end of July 2014 robbery under arms overall has increased by 16%, with 679 reports compared to 585 for the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 27% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 2% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

In relation to traffic, 67 road fatalities from 61 accidents have been recorded at the end of July 2014 in comparison to 61 fatalities from 58 accidents for the same period in 2013. 

The other categories of accidents – serious, minor and damage – have seen reductions unto the end of July this year, in comparison to same period last year.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 28 such persons having lost their lives at the end of July 2014. In addition 8 motor cyclists, 14 pedal cyclists, 6 drivers and 11persons travelling in motor vehicles also lost their lives.

Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 37 of the 61fatal accidents recorded at the end of July 2014.  

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 43,487 cases being made against errant motorists unto the end of July 2014; of this total, 11,637 cases were for speeding.

To date, 8 persons have lost their lives from 7 accidents on the roads for the month of August 2014