Murder rate slows, says JCF report
Published:Wednesday | May 30, 2018 | 12:00 AMSyranno Baines/Gleaner Writer
The latest crime statistics are indicating that all serious and violent crimes, except larceny, decreased between January 1 and May 26 when compared to the same period last year, resulting in a 1.6 per cent drop in murders.
According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's latest Periodic Crime Statistics Review, 565 persons were killed during the period compared to 574 over the corresponding period last year. This represents a slowdown in the homicide rate, which had recorded percentage increases into the high teens and mid-20s during the first two months of this year.
Reported cases of shooting declined by a marginal 0.8 per cent, with 491 compared to 495 last year.
Robbery fell by 2.2 per cent, and break-ins dropped by 9.9 per cent.
Rape declined by 23.7 per cent, while aggravated assault was down by 33 per cent. Larceny saw a 12.5 per cent increase, with 63 cases over the period, compared to 56 last year.