KINGSTON, Jamaica — There has been a six per cent decline in the number of reported sexual abuse cases to the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), the agency said.

The drop represents figures from the first six months of 2012, January to June, and is compared to the same period last year.

The reduction was due largely to a 23 per cent reduction in carnal abuse reports, down to 796 this year. Carnal abuse accounts for the largest number both years.

Despite the reduction in the number of sexual abuse reports for children, all other categories saw increases.

Exhibitionism had the largest percentage jump, up to 13 reported cases. Buggery was up 66 per cent (53 cases), rape rose 56 per cent (153 cases) and incest was up 35 per cent (62 cases).

Additionally, oral sex (51 cases, up 31 per cent) and fondling (192 cases, up 28 per cent) saw increased reported incidents.

The OCR said it had 4,499 total reports, including for neglect and “in need of care and protection”, for the period, an 11.4 per cent increase.