Above: Guyana

By the Caribbean Journal staff

There was a 7 percent increase in serious crimes in Guyana in 2013 compared to 2012, according to data released by the government this week.

In the Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 period, there were a total of 4,007 reports of serious crimes under review, compared to 3,760 in the 2012 calendar year.

The offences monitored included murder, armed robbery, robbery with violence, larceny and breaking and entering, among others.

There were a total of 154 murders in 2013, compared to 139 in 2013, a 11 percent increase compared to the previous year.

There was also a 14 percent increase in armed robberies involving firearms, although there was a 4 percent drop in armed robberies that did not use firearms.

The data was collected by the Guyana Police Force.