Jamaica has recorded 938 murders this year, up to August 14.

This represents a three per cent increase when compared to the 911 murders recorded over the same period in 2021.

The information is contained in the latest Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Periodic Crime Statistics Review, which covers the period January 1 to August 14.

The St James Police Division leads the murder count nationally with 129 cases, a 21.7 per cent increase compared to the 106 homicides reported in the division up to August 14 last year.

The St Catherine North Police Division is second on the list, with 92 murders since the start of the year, while Westmoreland is third after 86 murders were recorded there.

St Andrew South is fourth with 82 murders, though that figure represents a 27.4 per cent decrease in homicides when compared to the 113 cases reported in the division over the same period last year.

Rounding out the top five murderous police divisions this year is St Catherine South which recorded 77 murders or one less than the corresponding period last year.

Trelawny had the highest percentage increase in murders, with a 177.8 per cent rise. There were 25 murders committed in the parish up to Sunday, compared with nine for the corresponding period in 2021.

Portland is the least murderous parish in 2022, having recorded eight murders over the period.

Meanwhile, the number of shootings islandwide decreased by 5.9 per cent. There were 732 incidents, 46 less than last year.

There were 251 rape cases over the period under review, compared to 310 for the same period last year, which represented a decrease of 19 per cent.

Robberies saw an 11.8 per cent increase with 569 incidents this year compared to 509 last year. The JCF also reported a 4.4 per cent increase in break-ins — 611 this year compared to 585 in 2021.

Overall, a total of 3,101 serious and violent crimes were reported up to Sunday when compared to 3,093 last year, representing a 0.3 per cent increase.