The Western Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ransford Moses Ninson, on Thursday assured the people of the Region that the Command is prepared to combat crime in the Region this year.

He said the Command had distributed patrol vehicles to all the district and divisional commanders geared to ensure rigorous patrolling throughout the Region.

DCOP Ninson gave the assurance in an interview with the GNA in Takoradi when the security services undertook a four-hour route march in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

He said the security services would provide security for all businesses and individuals and appealed to the public to provide them with information that would lead to the arrest of criminals.

The Regional Police Commander noted that the northern sector of the Region such as Enchi, Samreboi and Sefwi-Bekwai areas had experienced armed robbery cases in recent times and advised the people to provide the police with clues about movements of suspicious characters and criminals that would lead to their arrest.

Meanwhile, crime rate in the Region increased last year with 24,525 crime cases recorded as against 19,056 cases in 2011.

The figure showed an increase of 5,469 cases with assault topping the list with 8,380 cases. Out of the figure, 7,074 were sent to court with 3,322 convictions, 1,283 acquittals and 14 discharged.

In addition, 2,025 cases are still on trial whilst 13,511 cases are under investigations and 2,448 cases closed.