Reduction in violent crimes in St Ann

There were reductions in murder, shooting and robbery in St Ann between January 1 and May 9 this year, when compared to the similar period last year.

Linton Bailey, deputy superintendent of police in charge of crime for St Ann, told councillors of the St Ann Municipal Corporation on Thursday that break-ins have jumped from 26 to 38.

He was addressing the monthly general meeting of the municipality at the Anglican church hall in St Ann’s Bay.

And, despite public outcry in January when several reports of rape surfaced, Bailey said that the seven incidents to date for 2021 were similar to the number that occurred last year for the corresponding period.

For the period under review, murders fell from 26 in 2020 to 20 this year, while shootings fell from 22 to 14, and robbery from 28 to 17.

There has been a clear-up rate of 55 per cent for murders, with arrests being made in 11 of the cases, as against 12 of the 26 last year.

Bailey said of significance was that there was no murder in the parish for April, compared to six for April 2020.

He also disclosed that the police have started an anti-robbery and anti-break-in initiative for Runaway Bay and St Ann’s Bay following an increase in break-ins in these areas.

Meanwhile, 30 persons charged for breaches under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) pleaded guilty when they appeared in the Brown’s Town court recently to answer to the charges. Each person was fined $80,000.