Jamaica Records 12 Percent Increase In Murders In First Two Months Of 2020

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 3, 2020 (CMC) – Jamaica has recorded a 12 percent increase in murders for this year, as compared with the same period last year, according to figures, released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

It said that 233 cases of homicide were recorded, between January 1 and February 29, this year, as compared to 209 during the same period, last year.

The figures show that the St. Andrew South Police Division, which is under a State of Emergency (SOE), recorded 28 murders, the highest for the two-month period, followed by St. Andrew North with 27, St. Catherine South with 22 and Clarendon with 20.

The police are reporting a 285 percent increase in murders in St. Andrew North, but St. James and Westmoreland, which are also under a SOE, recorded major reductions in murders.

The police said that 104 illegal guns and 14,000 rounds of ammunition were seized, during the first two months of this year.

The figures also show reductions in all other major crimes, such as shootings, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, break-ins and larceny.

Last year, Jamaica recorded 1,329 murders.