Police arrests for violent crimes highest in 2021 – Report

Reported arrests efforts for violent crimes by the Ghana Police Service have been found to be the highest in 2021, after three years. 

Reported police arrest efforts for the period increased from 470 in 2020 to 610 in 2021. This represents a 29.8 per cent increase in arrests, the highest since 2018.

This is according to the 2021 Public Safety and Crime report by the Bureau of Public Safety. 

The report generally found that reported violent crimes cases had increased in 2021 by 40.8 per cent and associated deaths also increased by 53.7 per cent.

“The top three most reported violent crimes in 2021 are murder/manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault,” it stated.

The Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions reported the highest incidents of armed robberies in the country, with each region returning 19% of reported armed robbery in 2021. 

“Ashanti Region is the murder capital of the country, returning 23% of all homicide cases reported across the country in 2021. Central Region dominated reported aggravated assault cases across the country by returning 23% of all aggravated assault cases reported for the period,” it explained.

Most of these crimes are observed to have occurred outside the homes of the victims. According to the report, 78.6 per cent of the top three violent crimes occurred in places like roads and highways, offices, businessand trade spaces, places of worship, and other transitional spaces.

“Less than 10% of armed robbery incidents occurred within the abode/homes of victims, and 30% of homicides (murder/manslaughter) were reported to have occurred within places familiar to victims such as homes and neighborhoods.”

Authors of the report have called for public education on the dangers in transition spaces. 

“The data indicate that violent crimes such as armed robbery and homicide cases occurred more frequently on our roads and highways, offices, shops, places of worship, places of entertainment, and other transitional spaces than in homes. Efforts to educate the public about situational awareness and dangers in transitional spaces, and community policing cannot be over-emphasized. State-mounted CCTV cameras should be deployed, and footage occasionally released to the public to promote awareness and serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals.”