Sekondi, Nov. 16, GNA - Superintendent (Sup) Victor Agbetornyo, Western Regional Crime Officer, said the region has recorded an increase in major crime cases from the first to the third quarter of the year.

"The situation is due to the mass migration of people from all walks of life to the region in the wake of the oil find and the security agencies particularly the Police area not able to combat crime".

Sup. Agbetornyo was briefing officers of the Course 31 of the Ghana Armed Forces and Staff College on the security situation in the region at a meeting with the Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo in Sekondi on Monday.

He said that a total of 99 cases involving rape, defilement, narcotics armed robbery were recorded in the first quarter and 135 cases of such crimes in second quarter.

Supt Agbetornyo said despite the increase in major crimes, there was marginal decrease in minor offenses from 6,088 to 5484 within the same period. He said 52 defilement cases were recorded in the first quarter and it rose to 72 in the second quarter and 85 in the third quarter.

Supt Agbetornyo said the region recorded eight armed robbery cases in the first quarter, five in the second and none in the third quarter. He said: "It should however be emphasized that even though we are looking at the first to the third quarter of the year, robbery cases that occurred aside this record were successfully dealt with".

Supt Agbetornyo said eight murder cases and four attempted murder cases were recorded in the first quarter, 16 murder cases and 6 attempted murder cases in the second quarter and 21 murder cases in the third quarter.

He said the region recorded eight robbery cases in the first quarter, five cases in the second quarter and none in the third quarter.

Sup. Agbetornyo said eight narcotic cases were recorded in the first quarter, 20 cases in the second quarter and 17 in the third quarter and six persons had been convicted for the offence. He said 13 rape cases were recorded in the first quarter, 11 cases in the second quarter and 15 in the third quarter.

Sup Agbetornyo said 52 defilement cases were recorded in the first quarter, 72 cases in the second quarter and 85 in the third quarter. He said the lack of vehicles was a major constraint affecting effective patrol duties especially in remote communities.