300 rape cases reported; Crime up by 7%

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Police have released statistics which show that there has been an increase in the amount of serious crimes as at December 11, by 7% with a staggering 300 reported cases of rape.

According to the Guyana Police Force, at the end of November 2015 the Force recorded a 9% increase in serious crimes in comparison to the same period in 2014.

“However, following the launch of ‘Operation Dragnet’ on December 01, 2015, along with intelligence-led policing and improved cooperation from the public, this has been decreased to 7% up to December 11, 2015,” the release stated.

Serious crimes include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Police say a total of 133 murders were recorded at the end of November 2015 in comparison to 130 murders at the end of November 2014; an increase of 2%.

Meanwhile, robbery under arms overall has increased by 4% in comparison to the same period in 2014.

“The statistics indicate an increase of 6% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, while the figures are almost similar in relation to the number of armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.”

Police also reported that there was a 26% increase in the amount of rapes being reported.

“The statistics have revealed that there has been an increase of 26% in the number of reports of rape, with 300 reports at the end of November this year compared to 238 for the same period last year.”

Break and Enter and Larceny and Burglary have shown an overall increase of 11%.

Police also stated that a total of 103 illegal firearms have been recovered by the police comprising 1 sub-machine gun, 56 pistols, 28 revolvers, 11 shotguns, 6 rifles and 1 pen-gun. This compares to a total of 81 illegal firearms that were recovered unto this time last year.