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A total of 78,509 criminal cases were recorded in Accra in 2013. Murder and robbery were among the most heinous crimes reported in the area. While 255 robbery cases were reported, murder cases amounted to 45. Briefing "The Finder" in Accra, Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Frank Adufati said the 2013 figure represents a decrease of 1,734 cases compared to 80,243 in 2012. He attributed the reduction in crime to active policing strategies adopted by the region such as crime prevention, intensification of night patrols, mobilised foot patrols, adoption of visibility and accessibility. According to him, the highest cases reported included assault - 25,460; stealing -20,023; threat to life - 8,750; and fraud - 9,276. He noted that major cases included robbery - 255; murder - 45; defilement - 514; rape - 157; abduction - 114; and narcotics - 87. Chief Superintendent Adufati gave other statistics as abandonment of children, 16; exposing child to harm, 28; child stealing, 14; failure to supply children�s needs, 517; and incest, 14. Additional statistics include street robbery - 27; car snatching - 116; residential robbery - 76; workplace robbery - 36; and causing damage - 8,804. Touching on the general overview of crime in the region, he said 2,987 out of the 78,509 reported cases did not have any merit and were dismissed, putting the true cases at 75,522. He said 8,897 cases were sent to court; 2,509 convictions secured; 358 acquitted; and 6,030 awaiting trial. Chief Superintendent Adufati said 1,170 motor traffic cases were reported in the year under review, explaining that 85 were dismissed for lacking merit, 759 sent to court, 575 convictions secured, 40 acquitted, and seven awaiting trial. He listed the arrest of criminals - such as notorious armed robber Saminu Dalifu, 26; Eric Addo, Dzato, 24; Ali Ibrahim, 27 - as some of their achievements. He said the police also resolved major cases such as the Dzorwulu Forex Bureau robbery, arrest of Kan Dapaah�s robbery suspects, re-arrest of escapee prisoners from Tema Fishing Harbour Police Station, arrest of murderers and robbers of Madam Miriam Salifu of Kingsway Complex School at North Kaneshie, arrest of robbers who attacked Mamprobi Guinness Depot and killed a security man, as well as the arrest of serial kidnappers. On land and chieftaincy-related disputes, Chief Superintendent Adufati mentioned murder by land guards at Otinibi, Teshie chieftaincy dispute, murder at Peace Village and demolition at Aviation land in Adentan as some of the major cases handled in 2013. He said the regional command intends to intensify and sustain the momentum against crime, particularly armed robbery. He attributed the reduction in crime to active policing adopted by the region, crime prevention, intensification of night patrols, mobilised foot patrols, adoption of visibility and accessibility. The Finder