Murders up 6.5 per cent as of May 23 – JCF
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The national murder rate has increased to 6.5 per cent so far this year.
That’s according to information from the latest Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Periodic Crime Statistics Review, which covers the period January 1 to May 23.
It shows that there have been 35 more murders for the period, with 574 recorded this year, compared to 539 for the same period in 2021.
Amid the increase in killings nationally, the total number of serious and violent crimes committed so far this year has declined by 1.7 per cent.
The police reported that 1,921 serious and violent crimes were reported up to Monday when compared to 1,954 last year.
Regarding a further breakdown of the murder statistics across the island, the St James Police Division leads the murder count with 96 cases.
This represents a 37.1 per cent increase compared to the 70 homicides reported in the division up to May 23 last year.
Westmoreland follows with 59 murders, the St Catherine North Police Division has 54 cases, and the St Andrew South Division follows with 48 murders, to round out the top four murderous police divisions so far this year.
However, St Mary maintains the title of having the highest percentage increase in murders nationally, with a 500 per cent rise. There were 18 murders committed in the parish up to May 23, compared with three for the corresponding period in 2021.
Portland is the parish with the least murders this year. A total of four killings were recorded in contrast to the six reported last year.
The JCF’s serious crimes report also showed that there was a 10.7 decrease in the number of shooting incidents as of Monday.
There were 449 cases of shootings so far this year, compared to 503 for the same period last year.
In the meantime, declines have been recorded in cases of rapes and robberies.
Only 160 cases of rape were reported up to May 23 this year, down from the 190 observed in the corresponding period last year, representing a reduction of 30 cases or 15.8 per cent.
The JCF reported a 1.4 per cent decrease in robberies — 357 this year compared to 362 in 2021.
However, the number of break-ins committed islandwide up to Monday increased by 21 cases or 5.8 per cent.
Some 381 incidents were reported so far this year when compared to 360 recorded last year, the JCF said.
