Murders in Jamaica Have Declined Since January

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica has recorded an 11.8 percent decrease in murders during the period January 1 to July 29 this year, as compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

It said that there were 786 murders as compared to 891 with almost all divisions reporting a decrease in murders.

According to the figures, St. James recorded 119 murders as compared to 129, while St. Anns showed an increase, moving from 35 to 49 and Clarendon 52 to 61 murders.

The JCF said Kingston Western division also recorded an increase from 43 to 50 killings, with Kingston Eastern recording the same number of murders, 29, for the first six months as the same period last year.

The figures also showed that a minus nine percent in shootings this year, with 618 shootings as compared with 679 last year.

There was also a noticeable decline in rapes with the JCF reporting 223 cases during the first six months of this year as compared with 297 for the same period last year. The police said that there were 428 break-ins during the first six months of this year, a 119 percent decline over the same period last year when 428 break-ins were recorded.