SIXTEEN MURDER CASES have been recorded in the Western Region during the second quarter of 2009 against 10 within the same period in 2008.

The causes of the recorded cases included litigation over farmlands, chieftaincy disputes and jealousy on the part of some spouses.

Supt. Victor Seth Agbetornyo, Western Regional Crime Officer disclosed these at a Press Soiree the police organized in Takoradi last week.

Supt. Agbetornyo pointed out that the general crime situation in the region increased from 5067 in the second quarter of 2008 to 6088 in 2009 while minor cases such as assault, causing unlawful damage, petty stealing and inducing tenants to quit increased from 4903 to 5916.

The Regional Crime Officer mentioned some of the challenges confronting his outfit as inadequate vehicles for town and highway patrols, information flow on activities of criminals and their hideouts which made it difficult to pursue wrong doers.

He said some informants also behaved as double agents who after offering the police information turned to alert the wrong doer in order to gain favour.

He called on the public to cultivate observation habit by watching strange characters and observing features for easy identification and taxi drivers to be wary of the kind of passengers they picked at night outside the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

Supt. Agbetornyo promised that his outfit would continue to embark on an intensive uniform and mufti patrols particularly on the highways and organize intelligence led swoop in areas suspected to harbour criminals.

He also encouraged the formation of neighborhood watch committees and asked communities to volunteer information on suspected criminals.