KINGSTON, Jamaica– The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says the island had recorded 805 murders as of July 16, a two percent increase compared to the same period last year when there were 786 murders.
Jamaica had recorded 1 463 murders in 2021.
In its latest Periodic Crime Statistics Review, covering January 1 to July 16, the JCF said that the St James Police Division in the northwest end of the island continues to lead in murders with 116 cases, 21 more cases than compared to the 95 recorded for the corresponding period.
The St Catherine North Police Division, southeast of here, reported an increase of 23 murders, from 55 cases last year to 78 points this year, while Westmoreland, south of the capital, is up by 21, from 56 last year to 77 this year.
The JCF said that the St. Andrew South, southeast of here, had recorded 68 murders, a decrease of 31 compared to the 99 cases for the corresponding period last year.
Trelawny, situated northwest of the island, had the highest percentage increase in murders, with a 257 percent raise. There were 25 murders committed in the parish up to last Saturday, compared with seven for the corresponding period in 2021. The northeast coast parish of Portland is the least murderous in 2022, having recorded seven murders.
The JCF also reported an eight percent decrease in shootings Islandwide, adding that there were 632 incidents, 53 less than last year.
Cases of rape also declined, with an estimated 229 cases being recorded this year, down from the 269 observed in the corresponding period last year, representing a reduction of 40 points or 15 percent.
There was also a nine percent decline in robberies with 497 incidents this year compared to 457 last year. Overall, 2,713 severe and violent crimes were reported up to last Saturday when compared to 2,726 last year, the JCF reported.
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