Police Commissioner Henry Greene said that though there have been 20 more murders this year so far, compared with last year, there is an overall decrease in serious crimes particularly robbery under arms which is a result of firearm seizures.
In the wake of the flurry of criminal activities over the last few weeks, Greene said the police will continue to keep up the pressure with patrols and intelligence gathering.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Greene said that in the wake of several East Coast incidents including the execution of the five people at Cummings Lodge, the double murder in Bartica and other criminal activities in the interior, he felt it was important to give an update.
He reported that there have been 97 murders this year so far, in comparison with 77 murders for the same period last year and of this figure, “disorderly murders” top the list. He said there were 32 such murders with 14 occurring in the interior, in comparison with nine last year.
“There have been several murders within the last two weeks in the bush; most of them arising from people drinking or arguing. Either stabbing each other or beating each other,” he noted.
Greene added that 13 domestic murders were recorded in comparison with 19 last year; 21 robbery/ murders for this year compared to 13 last year and nine executions, five of which occurred last Saturday at Cummings Lodge, compared with two for the same period last year.
According to Greene, serious crimes at the end of August showed a decline in areas such as robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation and rape. However there was an increase in murders, robbery in general and burglary, when compared to the figures last year.
Giving a breakdown of the serious crime figures, he said that in A division it was 8%; in B Division – 23 %, in C Division, – 21 %, in D Division – 12%, in E&F Division – 6 % and in G Division -21%.
Firearms
Greene told the media that 57 firearms have been seized so far for this year, compared to 59 for last year.
He said the force believes guns are being rented by criminals. “We are still of the view that persons may be sneaking some firearms into the system but the general trend in the seizures and the robbery under arms suggest that there are not that many firearms around. We have evidence where persons have been renting from others. Evidence of what they have said and what we have found. We actually found people with a bag carrying back the firearm, going back to give people firearms that they have rented,” he said.
He told the media that the stats tell a story about the seizure of firearms and the drop in robbery under arms with firearms.
“A decline that we have seen over the last few months despite what has happened in the last few weeks,” he added. According to Greene, the special firearms unit that operates out of the Criminal Investigations Department is doing a lot of intelligence work and working behind the scenes as it relates to firearms.
“We will continue to carry the pressure. We will continue to do our work based on intelligence. We will continue to put our best foot forward…,” the commissioner said.
Greene said that with the recent upsurge in criminal activity the force remains in position, having anti crime patrols particularly in George-town “by day and by night”.
He explained that in the city, East Bank Demerara and to some extent East Coast Demerara, there are no less that 12 of those patrols combined with motorcycle patrols.
The East Coast Demerara, he added, has its own anti crime patrol and other patrols that are linked to it. West Demerara, Berbice, Esse-quibo, Bartica and Linden also have anti crime patrols.
He said the force continues to train police officers to equip them with the knowledge to deal with serious crimes. At the moment about 15 police officers are benefiting from such training.
