Accra, May 20, GNA - Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Boakye, the out-going Greater Accra Regional Commander said on Friday that crime rate within the Metropolis has reduced remendously under his command.

He said crimes such as street robbery at the Accra business centre, trailing of travellers, bank and highway robbery, car snatching were all a thing of the past, adding, "I am happy that I'm leaving Accra in a better state than I came to meet it.

Speaking at a send-off ceremony in Accra, ACP Boakye noted that out of the 40 suspected hard-core criminals on the police list, they succeeded in arresting 39, leaving only one Amuzu Kilo who was alleged to be hiding in Libya.

He said when he became commander in August 2002, 16 robbery cases were recorded, in November 2002 the regional CID recorded eleven, November 2003 ten was recorded, and in November 2004 two cases were booked, in January 2005 there were six robberies and in April and May 2005, three and one cases respectively were recorded.

ACP Boakye related his success to the strategic measures he put in place after discovering cumbersome security situations in the metropolis.

He said as part of the strategy, the informant reward system was given impetus, morale of the officers was boosted and a cordial media relationship was developed, adding, "all these attracted the generosity and cooperation of the public which provided 75 per cent information that led to the arrest of some of the most hardened and wanted criminals.

The Police and Military combined patrols on highways and plain clothed personnel at most crime prone areas also resulted in the arrest and prevention of criminal activities.

ACP Boakye indicated that in spite of the gains made in combating crime it was important that police did not rest on their oars since the security situation in Accra could be explosive at any time. ACP Douglas Akrofi Asiedu, the new Greater Accra Regional Commander noted that although the strategy of combating crimes might differ, he would still wage tougher battle on crime.

"If criminals will not rest, how can I, whose calling is to grab criminals and maintain law and order?" he said.

He however, pledged his commitment to pursuing the footprints of his predecessor saying, "I hope to improve the informant reward system to have rich and reliable information related to criminals activities. ACP Asiedu urged all owners of accident vehicles left at all the police stations in the Greater Accra Region to remove them from those places before July 20, this year or face the rigours of the law.