Crime in Guyana

Stabroek Market, Georgetown.

Crime in Guyana is investigated by Guyana's police.

Crime by type

Murder

In 2012, Guyana had a murder rate of 17.0 per 100,000 population.[1] There were a total of 135 murders in Guyana in 2012.[1]

Domestic violence

Further information: Domestic violence in Guyana

Domestic violence is a problem in all regions of Guyana. Enforcement of the domestic violence laws is especially weak in the interior, where police do not have as strong a presence and courts meet only once a quarter.[2]

NGOs report a widespread perception that some police officers and magistrates could be bribed to make cases of domestic violence "go away." The government also does not prosecute cases in which the alleged victim or victim's family agreed to drop the case in exchange for a monetary payment out of court. NGOs assert the need for a specialized Family Court.[2]

Robbery

Armed robberies occur regularly, especially in businesses and shopping districts, especially in the capital Georgetown.[3] Nationally, there were 512 robberies under arms during the period January to October 2012 (a 15% increase from 2011).[4]

By location

Georgetown

In Georgetown, high crime areas include Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Sophia, all of south Georgetown, Buxton and Agricola.[5] Robberies are a daily occurrence in the Stabroek Market area.[6] A number of assaults have taken place in the Botanic Gardens.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Global Study on Homicide. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Report on Human Rights Practices 2006: Guyana. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (March 6, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ↑ "Guyana 2014 Crime and Safety Report", Overseas Security Advisory Council, US State Department, 15 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Guyana travel advice - Safety and security", United Kingdom Government foreign travel advice.
  5. ↑ "Guyana travel advice - Safety and security", United Kingdom Government foreign travel advice.
  6. ↑ "Guyana travel advice - Safety and security", United Kingdom Government foreign travel advice.
  7. ↑ "Guyana travel advice - Safety and security", United Kingdom Government foreign travel advice.
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