KINGSTON, Jamaica– Jamaica recorded more than 1,000 murders during the first ten months of this year, according to figures released here by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
As of October 23, the murder toll stood at 1 157, an increase of 110 or a 10.5 percent increase compared with the corresponding period last year.
But the JCF noted that the total number of severe and violent crimes committed this year has declined by 8.8 percent, with 3,850 extreme and violent crimes being reported compared with 4,221 last year.
According to the JCF figures, Trelawny northwest of here and Portland on the northeast coast continue to have the least murders in the country.
Trelawny has recorded 14 murders so far, down from 18 last year, whereas Portland recorded 14 homicides this year, up from nine last year, representing a 55.6 percent increase.
The JCF said that St Andrew South Police Division, southeast of here, continues to lead in murders with 136 cases, followed by St James with 127, and St Catherine South with 102 points.
The authorities have also reported that there was a marginal increase in the number of shooting incidents with 1,027 cases of shootings so far this year, compared to 1,023 for the same period last year, a .04 percent increase.
The figures show a decline in cases of rapes, robberies, and break-ins. There were 327 rapes, down from the 452 figure last year, while there were 608 robberies compared with 843 last year.
There were 731 break-ins this year as compared with 856 during the first ten months of last year.
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