Overall crime rate down 3%, but robbery up 18% – police

The Guyana Police Force has recorded a drop in serious crimes up to the end of June. However the murder rate continues to be a cause of concern.

Police said in a press release yesterday that an overall decrease of 3% in serious crimes had been recorded 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 for the same period last year.

It was stated that 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.

According to the press release, 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% decrease. Of those murders, 29 were of the disorderly type, two were committed during armed robberies, 10 domestic related and four execution type, while the other 17 are so far undetermined.

Robbery under arms has increased by 18% onto 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, the release said.