The Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwabena Gyamera Yeboah, on Wednesday, said crime in the area generally reduced in 2011 as compared to 2010.

He said apart from robbery, which increased from 81 in 2010 to 84 in 2011, murder decreased from 46 to 36, rape from 51 to 41 and defilement from 178 to 132.

DCOP Gyamera Yeboah was speaking at the Regional West Africa Security Services Activities (WASSA) in Koforidua.

WASSA is celebrated annually by the police to allow personnel shed off their stress, take stock of activities in the past year and chart the forward.

DCOP Gyamera Yeboah urged the service personnel to work harder to reduce the rate of crime to its barest minimum.

Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, the Eastern Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the government was aware of the contribution of the police service and appreciated their hard work.

He said it was also still committed to giving service personnel decent accommodation.