Murder figures decline in Portland, Trelawny

Portland and Trelawny remained murder-free up to Sunday, as the police reported a continuing decline in the number of persons killed across the island.

Latest figures show 87 people killed in the first 30 days of this year, down from 128 in the corresponding period last year.

That represents a 41 per cent reduction in the number of murders, with most parishes enjoying declines.

The usual hot spots, St Catherine (21), St James (12), and Clarendon (eight) continue to lead as the areas with the most murders. But there is a surprise entry near the top of the list.

Westmoreland has recorded 10 murders so far this year, a 67 per cent jump over its murder total for the corresponding period last year.

That has made the normally quiet south coast parish one of only four to record an increase in their murder total for January.

In the meantime, most other major crimes have also declined.

Larceny cases increase

Shootings are down 35 per cent; rapes, down 25 per cent; and reported cases of carnal abuse, down 45 per cent.

However, there has been an 84 per cent spike in the number of larceny cases recorded by the police.

According to the data, 46 cases of larceny were reported in the first 30 days of this year, up from 21 in 2010.

The police also seized 48 illegal firearms during January, while 18 people were killed during confrontations with members of the police force.

This is well below the 27 people killed by the police in the corres-ponding period last year.