PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Except for aggravated assault, all crimes are down in Portland, in comparison to last year's numbers. The parish's police are now exploring ways to tackle the uptick in assaults. There have been nine up to December 7, five more than last year.

"Efforts are being made to see how we can partner with our external agencies to deal with disputes and threats leading to aggravated assault," Superintendent Lloyd Darby, who is in charge of the Portland Police Division, told Thursday's monthly meeting of the municipal corporation.

Most of the data he presented was in line with Portland's reputation as the parish with the lowest crime rate. Though there were three break-ins over the past few days, there was a decline in that category of crime overall. There have been 39, which is 17 less than the 56 seen last year.

Other categories of offences that have fallen, when compared to last year, include serious and violent crimes which are down by 34 per cent. The clear-up rate has also improved, moving up five per cent over the rate in 2021.

There were 31 per cent drop in murders, seven fewer shootings, and robberies dropped by 11. In addition, there were five fewer reported cases of larceny and rapes drop by eight.

Turning his attention to what has been taking place on the parish's roads, Superintendent Darby said there have been three fatal accidents.

"There [was] one in Mt Pleasant where a bus got out of control and the lone occupant, the driver, died; one at Woodstock in Buff Bay, and the other a motorcyclist in the Spring Gardens area," he said.

— Everard Owen