Twenty-seven murders were among the 137 major crimes reported to the police during the week ending April 25, pushing the murder toll to 428 since the start of the year.

Major crimes rose by 11, compared to the previous week when 148 were reported. Of this number, 71 have been cleared up.

By the Constabulary Communication Network’s (CCN) tally, murders increased by four over the previous week when 23 were reported. Robberies increased by eight, up to 38, while felonious wounding climbed by six over the 36 reported last week.

The categories of shootings and sexual offences were the two major crimes which recorded a decrease. Shootings fell by four over last week’s figures when 29 were recorded, while 12 sexual offences were reported this week – a decrease of 11 over the previous week.

The police have so far cleared up 14 of the 27 murders and nine of the 27 shootings.

During the period under review, four burglaries and 29 break-ins were reported, 130 breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act were detected and 111 rounds of ammunition seized.

Meanwhile, eight people were murdered over the weekend, and they have been identified as :

. Aubrey White, 35, otherwise called “Marlo” of Old Harbour Road, Spanish Town,

. Joshua Fletcher, 54, of Paradise, Westmoreland,

. Kenroy Anderson, 24, bus conductor of Swansea Clarendon

. Andre Patterson, 19 and Christopher McCauley, 25, both of Capture Land in Flankers, Montego Bay,

. Barrington Beswick, 42, of White Horses St Thomas,

. Dalton Taylor, 57, farmer of Hampstead St Thomas,

. Winston Hendricks, 49, taxi operator of Summerfield Clarendon, and

. O’Neil Wilson, 29, of Fitzgerald Avenue, Kingston 13.