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The Western Region recorded significant reduction in reported crimes in the passing year relative to the high incidence recorded in 2012, thanks to increased police vigilance. In 2012 a total of 24,525 crimes were reported in the region as against 17,957 cases in 2013. The 6,568 reduction, the result of police and public collaboration, represents over a quarter of the 2012 total. The Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, is calling for further collaboration to bring the crime rate to the barest and make the region the most peaceful and attractive. He said modern day policing required collaboration between the public and the Police Service to ensure that those who wish to make life uncomfortable for others were exposed. Giving crime statistics during a cocktail for the media in the region, the Regional Crime Officer, Chief Supt. James Kofi Abraham said most of the major crimes including robbery, murder, attempted murder, defilement, rape and possession of narcotic drugs were reduced drastically. He said six arm robbery cases recorded in the region had those involved handed with a total of 125 years imprisonment. The crime officer said three suspects who were convicted for defilement were also handed 46 years imprisonment. He said in 2013 the police were relentless and adopted several measures to combat crime, including increase in its presence in the communities and urban centres. 2013 recorded 54 murder cases compared to 59 cases the previous year, while attempted murder cases also reduced from 18 to eight cases. The regional crime officer said, robbery cases saw slight increase as it moved from 62 cases in 2012 compared to 68 this year saying however, that as a result of the proactive policing and improved strategy almost all the culprits were arrested to face trial. In the area of narcotics, Chief Supt. Abraham said there were only seven arrests unlike the 59 arrests last year. He attributed the reduction to improved and proactive posture of the Police Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) in the region ensuring that such activities were unattractive to the peddlers. Due to the sensitization and strict enforcement of the law there was a reduction in the issues of rape cases, which reduced from 77 reported cases in the previous year to 45 this year. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan said the region had become very unique in the country because it was home to a wide range of natural resources. He said given that the region has rich resources such as gold, cocoa, timber, oil and gas among others, it was easily attractive to all manner of people, including miscreants. He said it behoved the police to be responsive and professional at all times to deal with unscrupulous behaviour to protect lives and property, arrest offenders for prosecution and help to maintain law and order with recourse to the country�s constitution. Mr. Gyan lauded what he said was the tremendous relationship between the police and other security agencies, expressing the hope that the strong bond would be sustained to win the trust of the populace for their common good.