BPS Report: Use Of Firearms For Violent Crimes Up By 4%

The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has appealed to the Minister in charge of the Interior and other law enforcement agencies to come up with policies that will reduce the increasing number of violent crimes executed with firearms.

The Bureau Public Safety explained that the execution of violent crimes with the aid of firearms has increased by four percent (4%) compared to 2021.

Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has said in its report titled “Ghana Public Safety and Crime Report January-June 2022” that overall reported violent crimes decreased by about 12 per cent in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

Reported incidents of murder or manslaughter, armed robbery, and civil disorder for the period of 2022 also decreased over y2021, at 20%, 19%, and 22% respectively, it added.

“Reported deaths arising out of violent crimes increased by 1.2% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021. Despite the decrease in the number of violent crime incidents, more people continue to fall victim to violent crime activities, leading to an
increase in deaths resulting from violent crime activities.

“Reported use of firearms in the commission of violent crimes in Y2022 increased by more than 4% over the same period in Y2021,”the report indicated.

Reported cases of illegal arms trafficking, possession, and unauthorized use increased by over 300% in the first half of 2022 over the same period in 2021, the BPS said.

“Data monitored showed a 2% increase in reported police arrests for the first half of Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.”

 

The report says the four percentage (4%) increment of violent crimes executed with firearms needs to be curbed before it goes out of gear.

 

 

Below is the summary of the report:

1. Total public safety incidents reported decreased by 0.2% over the same period in Y2021, being a total of 664 events for Y2021 as against 663 events for Y2022.

2. The total reported deaths monitored increased by 9%, from 501 deaths in 2021 to 546 deaths in Y2022.

3. Total reported injuries monitored for the period in 2022 increased by over 35% compared to the same period in Y2021.

 

 

TRANSPORTATION-RELATED EVENTS

4. Reported transportation-related events (dominated by road crashes) increased by 19% with a 25% increase in fatalities (deaths) compared to the same period in Y2021.

 

 

 

PREVENTABLE/ACCIDENTAL DEATHS

5. Preventable deaths 1 (also referred to as accidental/unintentional deaths) recorded in the first half of Y2022 increased by 22% over the same period in Y2021. Approximately two (2) persons are killed accidentally each day in a preventable occurrence.

6. Transportation-related incidents (mainly road traffic crashes) are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the first half of 2022; and deaths increased by 19% over the same period in 2021.

Death arising out of ‘accidental’ events such as road crashes, building collapses, among others.

Preventable deaths and injuries do not include natural causes of death, such as illnesses, or deaths arising from violent crimes.

 

 

VIOLENT CRIMES

7. Overall, reported violent crimes decreased by about 12% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021. Reported incidents of murder/manslaughter, armed robbery, and civil disorder for the period of Y2022 decreased over Y2021, at 20%, 19%, and 22% respectively.

8. Reported deaths arising out of violent crimes increased by 1.2% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021. Despite the decrease in the number of violent crime incidents, more people continue to fall victim to violent crime activities, leading to an increase in deaths resulting from violent crime activities.

9. Reported use of firearms in the commission of violent crimes in Y2022 increased by more than 4% over the same period in Y2021.

10. Reported cases of illegal arms trafficking, possession, and unauthorized use increased by over 300% in the first half of Y2022 over the same period in Y2021

11. Data monitored showed a 2% increase in reported police arrests for the first half of Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.
 

 

Click on the link below for the full report 

 

SUMMARY_BPS_WATCH_HY22

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Source: MyGhanaMedia.com