Jamaica Records Nearly 11 Per Cent Increase in Murders

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica recorded more than 1,000 murders during the first 10 months of this year, according to figures released here by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

(photo via NewsAmericasNow)It said as of October 23, the murder toll stood at 1, 157, an increase of 110 or a 10.5 per cent increase when compared with the corresponding period last year.

But the JCF noted that the total number of serious and violent crimes committed so far this year has declined by 8.8 per cent, with 3,850 serious and violent crimes being reported as compared with 4,221 last year.

According to the JCF figures, Trelawny north-west of here and Portland on the north-east coast, continue to have the least murders in the country.

Trelawny has recorded 14 murders so far, down from 18 last year, whereas Portland recorded 14 homicides this year, up from nine last year, which represented a 55.6 per cent increase.

The JCF said that St Andrew South Police Division, south-east of here, continues to lead in murders with 136 cases, followed by St James with 127, and St Catherine South with 102 cases.

The authorities have also reported that there was a marginal increase in the number of shooting incidents with 1,027 cases of shootings so far this year, compared to 1,023 for the same period last year,  a .04 per cent increase.

The figures show a decline in cases of rapes, robberies and break-ins. There were 327 rapes, down from the 452 figure last year, while there were 608 robberies as compared with 843 last year.

There were 731 break-ins this year as compared with 856 during the first 10 months of last year.