[www.inewsguyana.com] – At the end of August 2015, the Guyana Police Force recorded a 12% increase in serious crimes in comparison to the same period in 2014.

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.

Statistics released by the Force revealed that a total of 104 murders were recorded at the end of August 2015 in comparison to 98 murders at the end of August 2014, an increase of 6%.

As of September 10, 2015, four more murders have been recorded, bringing the total to 108. At the end of August 2015 robbery under arms overall has increased by 3% in comparison to the same period in 2014.

The statistics indicate an increase of 4% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms while the number of armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators is similar.

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The police force noted that there has been an increase of 65% in the number of reports of rape with 271 reports at the end of August this year compared to 164 for the same period last year. Break and Enter and Larceny and Burglary have shown an overall increase of 13%.

Meanwhile, at the end of August this year, a total of 81 illegal firearms have been recovered by the police comprising 1 sub-machine gun, 46 pistols, 21 revolvers, 6 shotguns, 6 rifles and 1 pen-gun. This compares to a total of 53 illegal firearms that were recovered unto this time last year.

In relation to the firearm amnesty, further to the Police Force’s Press Release that was made on September 08, 2015, as of September 10, 2015, two 16 gauge shotguns and 2 matching cartridges were handed in to “F” Division; two air rifles and one .32 pistol with 2 matching rounds were received in “A” Division and a .22 air rifle was surrendered in “E” Division (Linden/Kwakwani).

The Police Force is continuing in its efforts aimed at crime prevention through its police-community partnership programme, along with social crime prevention interventions in the Policing Divisions, with special emphasis on empowering youths.