The police today said that armed robbery was up by 18% but that there was an overall decrease of 3% in serious crimes at the end of June this year in comparison to last year.
The total number of reports of serious crimes made by June 30 this year was 1918 compared to 1980 at the end of June last year. 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, the police said.
A total of 65 murders were recorded at the end of June 2011 in comparison to 62 murders for the similar period this year; a 5% decline. Of the 62 murders, 29 were of the disorderly type, 2 were committed during armed robberies, 10 domestic related and 4 execution type, while the other 17 are so far of an undetermined nature.
Robbery under arms has increased by 18% up to June 2012, with 508 reports compared to 431 for the same period in 2011. The statistics indicate an increase of 13% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 27% increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
In relation to traffic, there has been a 30% reduction in road fatalities up to the end of June this year in comparison to the same period last year, with 39 fatalities this year and 56 last year. The year also continues to see reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage, police said.
So far drivers of motor vehicles are the main road users affected with 11 such persons having lost their lives on the roads by the end of June this year. 10 pedal cyclists and 9 pedestrians have also lost their lives unto June this year.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 28 of the 38 fatal accidents at the end of June this year.
In addition to traffic education, the Force is continuing its enforcement activities along with the use of breathalysers and radar guns, and at the end of June this year a total of 33,958 cases were made against errant motorists. Of this total 8,154 cases were for speeding.
