Crime RATE continued to fall countrywide, with the number of registered cases dropping by 12 per cent in this year’s first three quarters compared to the same period last year, according to statistics released by Rwanda National Police (RNP), yesterday.

Top of the crime list, according to the security status report, are assault, drug abuse, defilement, house break-ins and threats without use of violence.

The figures were made public during the end of year Police-media interactive session at Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana, said security situation in the country continues to improve due to the existing policing partnership with, among others, the media, which inform and educate the public on their individual role in fighting and preventing crimes through information sharing.

"We believe in the philosophy that says ‘information is power and using information is powerful; your presence here today is an additional seal to Police-media partnership which is geared to serve and ensure safety of the people,” IGP Gasana said.

He said evolution of technology continues to present a challenging policing landscape.

"You are only relevant if you keep up with the pace and move even faster; whenever you have information before anyone else, then you have power. That’s why we need to strengthen and formalise this partnership and further build safer societies together,” he noted.

Shedding light on the state of crimes in 2016, the acting Commissioner for Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Morris Murigo, said the five crimes that top the list constitute about 73 per cent of the total number of crimes registered.

Drug-related crimes make up 29.93 per cent (2,964), which indicates a decrease from 3,197 and 3,072 cases registered in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Other high impact crimes over the period include human trafficking, fraud and deceit.

"Generally, crimes in the country keep reducing and we hope that with more efforts from all stakeholders and stiff safety and security measures—the trend will continue to go down,” said Murigo.

Road safety status in 2016

During the session, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, George Rumanzi, said road accidents also decreased by 37 per cent in the same period.

"In the last three months, 114 people died in road accidents, 350 were seriously injured, while 730 sustained minor injuries,” said Rumanzi.

He said vehicles imported increase by the day as well as huge increase in the number of Rwandans registering for driver licence exams.

"Figures from Rwanda Revenue Authority indicate that in the last five years, 85,223 automobiles were imported. This implies that, on average, 1,420 automobiles are imported every month. A total of 132,850 Rwandans also registered and sat driver’s licence tests in 2016 alone,” said Rumanzi.

Rumanzi said at least 240,103 traffic related offences were recorded. These included speeding, accidents, reckless driving, lack of proper documents, drunk-driving, violation of pedestrian rights and traffic lights, among others.

"Twenty-two Traffic Police officers were dismissed from the Force over corruption-related offences while four others were dismissed over gross misconduct,” he explained.

"We also arrested 31 people with forged driver’s licence. A total of 678 public service vehicles have been fitted with speed governors while 101,054 went through road worthiness inspection. The mobile test lane track made 15 rounds across the country and offered services to over 5600 vehicles. ”

Rumanzi said, as part of the department’s expansion and enforcing road safety, they added more 40 new patrol cars, 86 motorcycles and 86 speed gun cameras on roads.

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