Tema, July 26, GNA - Crime in the Tema Metropolis decreased from 34,650 from January to June in 2009, to 27,046 during the same period this year.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Augustine Gyening, Tema Regional Police Commander, told the GNA on Friday that he and his men had worked hard to ensure safety and security in the Metropolis.

The Tema Police Region is made up of Tema, Ashaiman, Adenta, Dangme East and West.

Mr Gyening said six serious cases in the Region included robbery, defilement, rape, murder, possession of narcotic drugs, and possessing fake currency.

He said the Accra/Tema Motorway had been a source of worry for them because armed robbers often attacked and robbed people on it.

Mr Gyening said robbers had been attacking people on and off the motorway and because of this his men had varied their operations on the motorway.

He assured the general public of their safety both day and night on the motorway.

Using figures to support his statement, the Police Commander said for the period January to June last year the Region recorded 109 robbery cases but for the same period this year 89 cases had been recorded showing a decline of 20.

On defilement and rape, he said 2009 recorded 89 defilement cases, while 2010 saw 75 cases indicating a decline of 14.

Mr Gyening said the region recorded 17 rape cases for the period under review in 2009 and 18 in 2010.

He said swoops organized by his men enabled them to clamp down on narcotic peddlers. Thirty-four people were arrested for possessing narcotic drugs during the first half of 2009, while the same period this year witnessed a decrease of 24 arrests.

Mr Gyening said during the first half of 2009, the region recorded six murder cases, while for the same period this year, nine murder cases were recorded.

He said the murder cases were largely as a result of lynching by mob actions and land disputes.

On possession of fake currency, 22 cases were recorded in the first half of 2009, while for the same period this year, six cases were recorded.

Mr Gyening said housing was the most serious challenge facing the police in his region and appealed to the government to help address it.

"If we have adequate accommodation for our staff, then we can now beef up the numbers," the Regional Commander said and appealed to government for motivational packages for his staff to raise their morale in the service.