Homicide continues to drop
published: Saturday | April 8, 2006

Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

Despite a reported downswing in crime, the gun remains the number one weapon of choice. - File
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JAMAICA'S HOMICIDE rate continued its downward trend for a third consecutive month in March. However the Corporate Area and St. Catherine which have recorded the highest number of murders over the past five years, remain the major killing fields.
Of the 313 persons murdered up to the end of March, 209 of the victims were killed in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine. The parishes with the least number of murders so far are; St. Ann with six, Trelawny five, St. Elizabeth four, St. Mary three and Hanover and Portland two each.


For the corresponding period last year the country's murder rate stood at a staggering 418. For the same period in 2004, the figure was 277. According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) crime review, the police are yet to establish the motive for 195 of the murders. The motive for another 99 have been categorised as "other criminal acts', which include reprisals and robberies.


GUN STILL WEAPON OF CHOICE
The gun continues to be the most popular murder weapon. Statistics released by the police indicate that 228 of the victims were killed by the gun, another 49 were stabbed while 10 were chopped to death. One person was killed by ice pick and 24 were murdered by other implements.
Up to the end of March, the police had seized 184 illegal guns, five fewer than the number seized during the corresponding period last year.







Major Crimes
2006
2005

Murder
313
419

Shooting
284
436

Rape
149
185

Carnal Abuse
76
71

Robbery
533
492

Breaking
295
415

Larceny
28
42

I suppose it's good news... don't feel like celebrating it just yet.....700 plus murders in one year???????????? That's disgusting. I'm headed there in August (fingers crossed), and this does not add to the excitment at all....btw what's carnal abuse?

You know I was wondering the same thing myself....'carnal abuse'..does anyone know?

carnal abuse sounds like sexual assault to me.

The noun carnal abuse has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: any lascivious contact by an adult with the sexual organs of a child (especially not involving sexual intercourse)


Meaning #2: sexual intercourse with a girl who has not reached the age of consent (even if both parties participate willingly)
Synonym: statutory rape

Country's murder rate still high
published: Friday | May 5, 2006

Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
DESPITE REPORTS by the Police High Command that there has been a decline in homicides, the country's murder rate remains high.
Up to Wednesday, there were 442 reported cases of murders since January, meaning an average of three persons have been murdered daily over the past 133 days.
But according to Derrick Smith, Opposition spokesman on national security, 126 persons were killed violently last month, equalling the figure set last year.
"There is a need for National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, and the Police High Command to review the April figures and focus on the need to ensure that the current assault on violent crime does not break down under the weight of this resurgence," Mr. Smith said.
VOLATILE AREAS
The Opposition spokesman noted that 73 persons were murdered in the last 14 days of April.
He further said that 16 of the victims were killed in the volatile areas of St. Catherine, which include Spanish Town, while an additional 10 were killed in the tourism capital of St. James.
Over the past four weeks, killings have been concentrated in St. James, St. Catherine, Clarendon and sections of the Corporate Area.
"Don't wait until the crime is committed, call and tell me what you know. My numbers are 902-1084 and 771-7682," said Superintendent Derrick Knight, the divisional commander for Clarendon, in urging citizens to assist the police to reduce killings.
Last week, Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields indicated that there was a reduction in murders by some 25 per cent, when compared with the corresponding period for last year.
He attributed the decrease to the implementation of an eight-point murder reduction action plan, unveiled by Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas in January.
The action plan aims at reducing the country's murder rate by five per cent