The Tema Regional Police Command recorded a total of 4,521 criminal cases during the fourth quarter of 2010. This shows a decrease of 165 cases compared to the 4,686 cases received in the third quarter of the same year. The cases were put under 36 categories which included robbery, rape, defilement, murder, possessing of narcotic drugs and threat. Others were assault, stealing, abortion, causing unlawful harm, fraud, possessing fake currency and abduction. Police Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Regional Police Public Relations Officer, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday, said assault topped the list with 1,686 cases followed by stealing which recorded 1,325. Chief Insp. Turkson said out of the 4,521 cases reported, 67 were refused while the remaining 4,454 were true cases. She indicated that 449 of the true cases were sent to court, out of which 155 of the accused persons were convicted, with only one acquitted. She said 158 of the cases were still pending at the courts, while 302 have been closed and 3,703 were under investigation. Chief Insp. Turkson explained that the downward trend of cases, especially serious crimes in the region during the last quarter of 2010, was due to the intensification of the Command’s operational activities. The activities, she said, included road blocks, mounting of barriers and snap checks. She stated that her outfit also ensured that patrol teams were headed by Chief Inspectors and Inspectors who issued orders to the team members to ensure they professionally discharged their duties. She commended the public for volunteering information on criminal activities in their vicinities and giving accurate directions to crime scenes. She also applauded the Media for educating the public on the “do’s and don’ts” for crime prevention. Chief Inspector Turkson again thanked religious organizations and schools that invited the Police for talks to educate the pupils on crime, especially sexual harassment and child abuse. Source: GNA