Accra, May 5, GNA - Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Cephas Arthur, on Wednesday said, even though the crime rate in the country has gone down, it could be reduced further if the public volunteer information about the hide outs of criminals.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, ASP Arthur said in 2008, the Police handled 39 cocaine cases, whiles in 2009 only 12 cases were recorded, representing a fall of 64.2 per cent. He said heroine in 2008 recorded seven cases and in 2009 one case, whiles marijuana recorded 668 cases in 2008 as against 661 in 2009. Robbery cases, ASP Arthur said, recorded 1449 cases in 2008 but reduced to 1373 in 2009.

ASP Arthur said fraud cases however went up from 16,513 cases in 2008 to 18,906 in 2009.

He appealed to the general public to be on the alert because it is difficult to identify a fraudster from a genuine person, adding that, fraudsters are usually calm and diplomatic when dealing with their intended victims.

ASP Arthur appealed to the public to cooperate with the police and to also participate in the educational programmes of the police to know more about issues concerning crime and its prevention.