Crime in Guyana

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] Guyana’s 2013 homicide rate is reported as 20.4 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest murder rate in South America (behind Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil).[2][3]

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.[4]

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.[4]

Armed robberies occur regularly, especially in businesses and shopping districts, especially in the capital Georgetown.[5] Nationally, there were 512 robberies under arms during the period January to October 2012 (a 15% increase from 2011).[6]

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