Murders climb to 108 … but 81 illegal firearms recovered
MURDER has climbed to 108 so far this year and some 81 illegal firearms have been seized, police said in their monthly crime statistics update on Friday. According to the police, at the end of August 2015, they 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. 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 Thursday, 4 more murders had been recorded.
Besides, at the end of August, robbery under arms overall 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.
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%. Unto 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, another 2 16 gauge shotguns and 2 matching cartridges were handed in to “F” Division; 2 air rifles and 1 .32 pistol with 2 matching rounds were received in “A” Division; and a .22 air rifle was surrendered in “E” Division (Linden/Kwakwani).
The force said that it 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.
Police-community partnership
During last month’s interaction between the police and youths attached to Police Youth Clubs in “A” Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara), a number of children were involved in a spelling bee competition, educational talks focusing on motivation, nutrition and healthy living, visits to places of interest such as the National Park and the Zoo, softball cricket and other recreational activities and training sessions in information technology, fire prevention and first aid.
The division also held its inaugural Ms Youth Ambassador Pageant 2015 on August 15, 2015 at the St Stanislaus College, Georgetown, where Miss Onica Lynch from the Albouystown Group was crowned Ms Youth Ambassador 2015.
In “B” Division (Berbice), the police donated sports gears comprising two prefab football goals along with nets and a football to the community of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, in further efforts to boost police community relations.
The division will also be making efforts to assist with the improvement of the playground in the community. On August 27, 2015, the police in “D” Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) launched its “See Something, Say Something” initiative under the Divisional C-PETS programme in its quest to reduce crime.
The initiative is in collaboration with the faith-based leaders attached to the Cops and Faith Community Network. During the launching of the initiative at the Tuschen Car Park, East Bank Essequibo, the police conducted a back-to-school distribution exercise where a number of children received backpacks with school stationery and water bottles.
In “E” Division (Linden/Kwakwani), a football tournament among 14 teams from Police Youth Clubs was held at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground, Wismar; a day of sports was also held at Silver Hill, Soesdyke/Linden Highway; and the youths were involved in first aid training and a workshop on Peer Pressure as well as a cheese straw making competition.
In “F” Division (Interior Locations), a 3-week community project was conducted at Itabali, Mazaruni, between August 02 and 23. The project involved 64 youths from the Purple Heart Police Youth Group where they were engaged in skills training, craftwork, sports and educational talks.
Empowerment project
On August 03, the police in “G” Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) launched a 4-week empowerment project for 23 youths from the Dartmouth community during which they will be exposed to home economic skills at the Essequibo Technical Institute.
Upon the successful completion of the programme, the youths will be certified by the Carnegie School of Home Economics. Divisional Commanders also held a number of community outreach meetings where issues and concerns raised by members of the public were addressed. During August, there were a total of 24 interventions supported by the religious community in the Cops and Faith Community Network which treats with juvenile first offenders for minor crimes as a pre-emptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps.
Since the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network in September 2013 and unto August 31, 2015, there have been a total of 210 such interventions. In all cases, the youths were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.
In relation to the Family Liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence project, which is also under the Cops and Faith Community Network, there were 17 interventions by members of the religious community in response to attempted suicide, and several cases of serious crimes including armed robbery and murder where the affected persons, victims and relatives were counselled. A number of police ranks who were involved in incidents and came under fire while responding to reports were also counselled by the religious leaders.
