Enterprise murders down by 86%

Murders in Enterprise, Chaguanas, have dropped by 86 per cent, acting Sergeant Jacey Small said at the weekly police press briefing yesterday.

To date, he said, there has been one murder in Enterprise this year.

The highest figure was in 2016, when 15 people were murdered. Similarly, in 2018 there was a spike in shootings and wounding, with a total of 24 victims.

To date for 2019 there have been three.

He said other crimes for 2019 compared to the past five years had decreased as well. Reports of larceny decreased to six, whereas the highest was 17 in 2016.

Robberies were highest in 2016, with 28 reports, and a spike was also observed in 2018. To date there have been nine reports of robberies for the year and 14 reports of break-ins, a decrease from the 23 reports in 2017.

For the year, there has been one report of motor vehicle theft, and no reports of robberies of homes in Enterprise.

Small said 35 people have been arrested for narcotics offences for the year.

He attributed the change to the focus on community policing, peace walks, and participation in youth clubs.

"We were able to increase the membership, in the Enterprise area alone, by over 100 persons joining the police youth clubs"

He said the police also worked closely with the resistance and prevention programme, which was founded by the Pan American Development Foundation.