The murder tally continues to spiral as police figures show at least 38 homicides have been committed since the start of the year.

Police statistics show that for the first six days of the year, there were 38 murders, 16 shootings and 17 robberies.

This is compared with 23 murders, 18 shootings and 16 robberies over the similar period last year.

Jamaica closed 2017 with 1,616 murders, one of the highest homicide figures on record.

St James in the western section of the island led with 335 murders, followed by Clarendon with 168 and Westmoreland with 147.

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