Crime in Guyana

Reported serious crime decreased from 1,070 cases in 2024 to 801 in 2025. Region 4-A accounted for 24% of serious crimes. Break-and-enter larceny was the most frequent serious offence category, while disorderly murders were the most frequent recorded murder category. Domestic murders increased from 13 to 26. These figures describe reported police cases, not the complete level of victimisation. A 2017 Safe Neighbourhood Survey found that 64% of sexual-offence victimisation was not reported, and no current nationwide victimisation rate is established by the available evidence. Urban violence and property crime require particular care at night. Reported higher-risk areas in Georgetown include Stabroek Market, Bourda in the evening, Agricola, Albouystown, Tiger Bay and Sophia. Botanical Gardens, the National Park and the Seawall should be avoided after dark. Keep valuables out of sight, use cash machines inside banks or shops where possible, pre-book a licensed taxi, and keep doors and windows locked. Do not physically resist a robbery. Border areas near Venezuela and Suriname also require current local security checks because organised crime presents an additional risk. For an emergency or a crime in progress, call 911. The GPF non-emergency and Control number is (+592) 225-6411, and Police Headquarters can be reached at (+592) 225-5401. Reports can be made through a police station or regional division. GPF services include police complaints, missing-person reports and cybercrime reports. The Secure Eye App can send a location, text, photo, video or voice-to-text report to the GPF Command Room or the nearest station. Service availability and response times outside urban centres are not separately established in the available evidence. The GPF operates a 24-hour Command Centre and uses 911 and closed-circuit television. In 2024 it received 905,042 calls, including 874,249 hoax calls, which can delay attention to genuine emergencies. Intelligent video surveillance (IVS) and CCTV generated 341 footage requests, of which 185 were crime-related. Command Centres in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 were operational, while the Region 8 centre was not operational in the researched material. Rural Constables and Neighbourhood Police help extend police presence in remote, hinterland and riverain communities. Community Policing Groups, also called CPOG, offer voluntary practical cooperation with the GPF; they are not a substitute for emergency services or formal police powers. Domestic and sexual violence can be reported through the GPF or the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security's 914 toll-free line, which operates in a 24-hour support context and is accessible to men, women and children. The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit oversees the 914 service, the Survivor's Advocate Programme and shelters. Available support includes counselling, referrals and protection interventions. The Hope and Justice Centre can provide counselling, legal aid and further assistance. Call 911 or the GPF when there is immediate danger. For a child-protection concern, contact 914 or the Childcare and Protection Agency at (+592) 227-0979; a report does not require proof, because the child's location and identity are sufficient to initiate the concern. The available sources indicate that these services are generally accessible without a service fee, but travel and medical costs may still arise individually. Cybercrime reports in Guyana include phishing, online scams, social engineering, identity theft, cyberstalking, distributed denial-of-service attacks, botnets and illegal content. Preserve messages, account records, payment details and screenshots. Secure affected accounts, change passwords and block bank access or payment instruments when necessary, then use the GPF cybercrime reporting channel; call 911 when an immediate physical threat exists. The available material does not confirm a separate national cybercrime victim-compensation or CERT service. Children have a separate justice pathway. A detained child is not automatically arrested or charged. For children aged 14 to 17, arrest or charge can occur, while parents or guardians, a CPA social worker or an attorney-at-law should be contacted and the child has a right to counsel. Possible diversion measures include a caution or warning, psychosocial counselling, mediation, conferencing and a circle process. Pre-charge screening can involve the CPA and the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Juvenile Justice Department describes processing-centre limits of 48 to 72 hours, but local practice should be checked for the relevant region. The 2025 research recorded 339 cybercrime reports compared with 241 in the earlier comparison period, with 50 proceedings and 12 convictions compared with 23 proceedings and 6 convictions. It also recorded 13 human-trafficking reports and 2 proceedings, the seizure of 100 illegal firearms, and the seizure of 2,033 kilograms of cocaine and 861 kilograms of cannabis alongside the eradication of 208 acres of cannabis. These enforcement figures show police activity and reported cases; they do not establish the overall prevalence of each offence.