Koforidua, Jan.27, GNA- The Eastern Region recorded low cases in crime related activities last year as compared to 2005. While in 2005, the region recorded 462 crime cases including highway and residential robberies, rape and defilement cases, murder and reported narcotic offences, the cases reduced to 368 in 2006.

The Eastern Regional Commander of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Felix Asare-Darko, said these on Friday, at the annual WASSA, held for members of the Ghana Police Service in the Eastern Region, on Friday at Koforidua.

DCOP Asare-Darko, noted that there was an increase in workplace robberies including those that occurred at filling stations in the region.

He commended police personnel in the region for their hard work and vigilance that resulted in the reduction in the crime rate. DCOP Asare-Darko appealed to the people to cooperate with the police to ensure that criminals were flushed out from the region.

He said chieftaincy disputes and the activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen created some level of insecurity in the region during the year under review.

DCOP Asare-Darko cited the Kitase Chieftaincy dispute, trouble at the funeral of the late Queenmother of New Juaben and the invasion of Fulanis of the Afram Plains as a result of which two persons died. The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Yaw Barimah, commended the police for their prompt response to security threatening issues and urged them to discharge their duties professionally in order to win the public's confidence.

He pledged the Regional Coordinating Council's support for the police and all other security agencies to enable them ensure peace and security for development.

The District and Divisional Police Commanders, heads of other security agencies, members of the Regional Coordinating Council and the Regional Security Coordinator attended the WASSA.