Weekend homicide rate takes dive to "normal" levels

www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The weekend murder rate upward curve has halted and dipped from more than 100 homicides to 71.

27 homicides were committed in Caracas  last weekend compared to 44 in the provinces.

Metropolitan Police (PM) chief, Henry Vivas thinks that the drop has to do with the fact that salaries weren’t paid out last Friday, meaning less money was circulating on the streets.

“The sharp hike in homicides after the Christmas period were no doubt connected to logistic problems encountered by the PM … now we are collaborating better with other municipal police forces but we still have communications and long-weapon problems.”

Libertador Police (Policaracas) chief ,Antonio Pujol says the PM and Policaracas are rotating zones to attack the serious problem of collusion between officers and local gangs.