Police record 62% increase in rape; 15% increase in murder

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Police statistics have shown an alarming 62% increase in the amount of rape crimes being reported thus far this year in comparison to 2014.

In a press statement on Thursday April 16, the police force noted that 47 murders have been recorded for this year unto April 13, 2015 in comparison to 41 for the similar period last year, which reflects an increase of 15%.

“Statistics reveal that a 4% increase in serious crime has been recorded for this year unto Monday April 13, 2015 in comparison to the same period in 2014. Among the serious crimes police 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 statement noted.

The police said too that up to April 13, 2015 robbery under arms overall has decreased by 19% in comparison to the same period in 2014.

The statistics indicate a 27% decrease in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 3% decrease in armed robbery where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

In relation to current on-going investigations, Police say there has been no arrest so far into the murder of 32-year-old Quincy Bowman, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, whose body was found with a gunshot to the head in the vicinity of Busta Bridge, Festival City, on April 06, 2015.  Investigations in this regard are ongoing. 

It was also noted that investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the death of Devi Ramadar, of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, whose body was found on the seawall at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, on April 11, 2015.

The cause of her death is so far undetermined.

Further, it was stated that ballistics tests are being conducted on the spent shells and a warhead that were recovered as investigations into the murder of businesswoman Shevon Gordon, of Block 22, Wismar, continue. Gordon was shot and killed during an armed robbery at her home on April 04, 2015.