GUINEA BISSAU: ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONAIRE 2007

UNCLAS DAKAR 000656 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/AF, AF/EX AND AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AMGT SOCI PU SUBJECT: GUINEA BISSAU: ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONAIRE 2007 REF: STATE 050692 Although Guinea-Bissau is closed, this report is submitted in anticipation of leasing commercial office space for TDY personnel. The following paragraphs and codes are keyed to the ACEQ format provided by DS/IP/ITA: ¶1. Crime Mobility: (E) Opportunistic criminal elements roam freely day or night and target affluent residential areas for burglary. ¶2. Crime ambience around neighborhoods: (C) Most American embassy personnel resided on compound until post closed in June 1998. Most neighborhoods in Bissau are surrounded within walking distance of high crime areas. ¶3. Aggressiveness of Criminals: (B) Criminal perpetrators usually commit street crimes and burglaries, but rely on stealth during burglaries. ¶4. Arming of Criminals: (B) Although sometimes armed with firearms, criminal perpetrators usually are armed with knives or lethal cutting weapons. Reports indicate that machetes and other sharp instruments are the most common weapons used to commit crimes. ¶5. Aggregation of Criminals: (C) Criminal perpetrators usually operate in groups of two to four individuals. Street scams, pick pocketing, purse snatching, and theft by intimidation are frequently perpetrated by small groups of individuals. Often beggars and vendors create a distraction, while collaborators accost the victim. ¶6. Deterrence/Response of Police: (D) Local police or neighborhood associations are totally ineffective at deterring or disrupting burglaries and other crimes and seldom are able to apprehend or arrest suspects after the fact. ¶7. Training/Professionalism of Police: (F) Police are a negative factor; besides being inept, untrained and uncaring, they are corrupt and may collaborate with criminal elements, or carry out crimes themselves under protection of their official duties. JACKSON