Murders continue to trend down - JamaicaObserver.com

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Murders continue to trend down

Robberies, break-ins and larceny up

Karyl Walker

Friday, July 03, 2009

FEWER murders were committed between January and June this year, when compared to the same period last year, continuing a downward trend that started earlier in the year.

Preliminary statistics released yesterday by the police showed that 740 people were murdered up to June 30 this year, 11 per cent less than the 833 recorded for the same period last year.

However, while there has been a drop in murders overall, police have expressed concern about a two per cent rise in killings in rural Jamaica, even while there has been a 19 per cent drop in the Corporate Area and urban St Catherine (Portmore and Spanish Town).

One hundred and twelve murders were recorded last month, compared to 136 in June 2008.

Seventy-six women and 33 children are among the 740 murders recorded up to June 30. Five police officers were among teh murdered.

Shootings have also dipped in the Kingston Metropolitan Region - the Corporate Area, Portmore and Spanish Town - by seven per cent, but increased by 16 per cent in rural police divisions.

Overall shootings have increased from 763 in the first six months of last year to 769 over the first six months of this year.

Property crimes - robberies, larceny and break-ins - have all increased significantly, while there was a drop in the number of rape and carnal abuse cases reported.

Robberies have gone up by 19 per cent, larceny by 87 per cent and break-ins by 128 per cent for the first six months of this year.

The gun was the implement of choice in murders (77 per cent) and robberies.

Meanwhile, police said they have seized 290 illegal weapons and 2,887 rounds of assorted ammunition during the first six months of the year.

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