…top cop says crime down by 46.6 %
Acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie said Guyana has experienced a significant reduction in serious crimes and road fatalities thus far for 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020.
In his address during the opening ceremony of the Guyana Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday, the Police Commissioner said the country recorded a 46.6% reduction in serious crimes for the period January 1-March 1, 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020, while fatal accidents decreased by 19% during the same period.
In 2020, the Police Force recorded 139 road fatalities – an increased when compared the 122 road fatalities recorded in 2019. Many of the victims were cyclists, pedestrians, drivers and occupants of vehicles.
Commissioner Hoppie said the records show that speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatalities on the country’s roadways, accounting for 106 of the fatalities recorded. Driving under the influence of alcohol, inattentive drivers and noncompliance with traffic signals are among other contributing factors.
Turning his attention to the Illicit Drug Trade, the Police Commissioner said the Guyana Police Force, during a number of police operations in 2020, seized 490 kilograms of cocaine resulting in 29 cases being made a total of 40 persons being charged.
Additionally, 809 kilograms of cannabis sativa (marijuana) were seized and destroyed from a total of 313 cases, in which, 423 persons were charged and placed before the Courts. It was noted that a large percentage of the marijuana destroyed were discovered in the Upper Berbice area and along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
The Police Commissioner said the Police Force in collaboration with local, regional and international law enforcement agencies will continue to intensify the fight against the use and trade of illicit drugs in the country.
The Guyana Police Force, Commissioner Hoppie said, is also utilizing a multiagency approach to tackle Trafficking in Person (TIP) and Domestic Violence. In keeping with the Force’s zero tolerance policy on Domestic Violence, the Police Commissioner made it clear that no rank can opt to have any Domestic Violence case settled out of Court. All Domestic Violence cases, he emphasized, must be placed before the Courts. To improve their handling of Domestic Violence cases, a number of ranks have been undergoing continuous training.
In 2020, the Police Force pursued a total of 1,662 reports of Domestic Violence when compared to 1,449 in 2019. Those investigations resulted in 894 persons being charged and placed before the Courts while 106 persons were warned in 2020.
Commissioner Hoppie said while the Police have no direct control over crime, no effort will be spared in the exercise of crime control in the utilization of methods of prevention and detection.
As it aims to bring the crime statistics down, he said the Guyana Police Force will be intensifying its approach and strategies to crime fighting.
“We will continue to work diligently in terms of our raids, roadblocks, robust anti-crime patrols, and intelligence network bolstered by division crime intelligence units and analytical work by way of data collected through the Integrated Crime Information System,” the Police Commissioner assured those present.
He added that the Police Force will also continue its strategic, proactive approach towards dealing with crime together with government and non-governmental organisations as well as members of the public. Currently, there are 186 Community Policy Groups, which have a collective membership of 3,277 persons.
