According to the latest police crime statistics, 1,003 people were murdered in Jamaica up to August 29, 2022.

This is 52 more homicides or a 5.5 per cent increase when compared with the corresponding period last year.

The St James Police Division leads the murder count with 136 cases, a 25.9 per cent increase compared to the 108 homicides reported in the division up to August 29 last year.

St Catherine North with 100 homicides; Westmoreland, 97; St Andrew South, 88; and St Catherine South, 82, round out the top five murderous of the 19 police divisions in Jamaica.

Portland is the least murderous parish in 2022, having recorded eight murders so far this year.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s serious crimes report also showed that there was a decrease in the number of shooting incidents as of Monday. There were 781 cases of shootings over the period under review, compared to 828 for the same period last year, which represented a decrease of 5.7 per cent.

In the meantime, declines have been recorded in cases of rapes so far this year. Some 264 cases were recorded up to August 29 this year, down from the 318 observed in the corresponding period last year, representing a reduction of 54 cases or 17 per cent.

Robberies saw a 14.5 per cent increase with 600 incidents this year compared to 524 in 2021.

Meanwhile, there was a six per cent increase in break-ins so far this year. The data showed that 654 cases were recorded, compared to 617 last year.

The total number of serious and violent crimes committed so far this year has increased by two per cent.

A total of 3,302 serious and violent crimes were reported up to August 29, when compared to 3,238 incidents reported for the corresponding period in 2021.