KINGSTON, Jamaica — A total of 405 murders were recorded in Jamaica for the period January 1 to April 9 this year, the same for the corresponding period last year.

That’s according to Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) serious crime report released recently.

While murders are on level ground with last year’s figures, the total number of serious and violent crimes committed so far this year has declined by 6.1 per cent.

A total of 1,341 serious and violent crimes were reported up to last Saturday, when compared to 1,428 last year. 

A breakdown of the murder figures showed that the St James Police Division continues to reign as the bloodiest police division for 2022. 

The statistics revealed that 71 people were killed in the division up to April 9. This is a 44.9 per cent increase or 22 more murders when compared to the 49 homicides recorded in St James last year.

The parish of Westmoreland followed with 42 reported homicides, while 37 people were murdered in the St Catherine North Police Division between January 1 and April 9.

However, St Mary had the highest percentage increase in murders, with a 1,400 per cent rise. There were 15 murders committed in the parish up to Saturday, compared with one for the corresponding period in 2021.

This was followed by Trelawny, which had a 333.3 per cent increase in murders from January 1 to April 9, with 13 murders compared to three for the same period last year.

Portland has the least number of killings recorded this year of four cases.

The data revealed, too, that murders were down in 10 of the 19 police divisions. 

Those with reductions are Kingston Central, down 58.3 per cent; Clarendon, down 46.4 per cent; St Andrew South, down 41.1 per cent; St Catherine South, down 40.5 per cent; Kingston Eastern, down 26.1 per cent; St Ann, down 23.5 per cent; Kingston Western, down 19.4 per cent; St Elizabeth, down 11.1 per cent; St Andrew Central, down 9.1 per cent; and Hanover, down 7.1 per cent.

The JCF’s serious crimes report also showed that there have been 312 cases of shootings so far this year, compared to 360 for the same period last year, which represented a decrease of 13.3 per cent. 

The police also report that there were 103 cases of rape for the January 1 to April 9 period this year, compared to 139 in 2021, a decrease of 25.9 per cent

In the meantime, the JCF said there was a 5.8 per cent decrease in robberies — 261 this year compared to 277 in 2021. 

There were 260 break-ins for the current report period, compared to 247 last year, an increase of 13 cases or 5.3 per cent.