Some 12 persons were murdered and five were killed along at the country’s roadways at the close of January, according to statistics released by the Guyana Police Force.

The figures in relation to murder represent a 29% reduction when compared to the corresponding period in 2013 which recorded a total of 17 murders in the first month of that year.

According to a statement from the police, at the end of January there was a 12% drop in serious crimes in comparison to January 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.

The statistics detailed that January ended with a decrease of 28% in robbery under arms and also indicates a decrease of 28% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a 27% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

There has also been substantial decreases in the occurrences of burglary and break and enter and larceny with 15% and 18%, respectively.

In relation to traffic, police said five persons died from five accidents at the end of January 2015 in comparison to 11 fatalities from 10 accidents for the same period in 2014; a 55% decrease in fatalities.

Pedestrians continue to be the main road users affected with 3 such persons having lost their lives at the end of January 2015. In addition 1 pedal cyclist and 1 person travelling in a motor vehicle also lost their lives.

Inattentiveness has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents so far, having been the cause of 3 of the 5 fatal accidents for January 2015.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 5,022 cases being made against errant motorists at the end of January 2015; of this total 43 cases were for using cell phones while driving, 82 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 1,234 cases were for speeding.

Already for February, six persons have lost their lives from five accidents.

Filed: 10th February, 2015

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