Murders still down 26% despite bloody two week spike

Despite a bloody two week flare up that left 37 people dead, Jamaica's overall murder rate is still trending downward compared to last year.

The latest serious crime statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that 19 murders were recorded between

The 37 murders recorded over the 14 day period have already exceeded the total for the entire month of January, when 33 people were killed.

However, as at February 14, the country's overall murder tally stood at 70, reflecting a 26 per cent decline year on year.

At the end of January, murders were down by 55 per cent. Police data now show that nearly 29 per cent of that reduction has been eroded following the consecutive weeks of double digit killings.

Major crimes overall remain down by 25 per cent.

St Andrew South currently leads the country with 10 murders, making it the only police division in double digits so far this year. St James follows with nine, St Elizabeth has recorded six, while Manchester and Clarendon have five each.

Kingston Central and St Andrew North remain the only two of the island's 19 police divisions without a recorded murder.

Among last week's incidents was Thursday's double murder in Bayshore Park, Kingston, on February 12. Separate homicides were recorded in St Mary on February 9 and on Stephen Lane off Waltham Park Road, where Jamaica Defence Force private Daniel Crawford was killed on February 10.

Women and children were also among the victims. Approximately six females were murdered during the review period, including four year old Saniyah O'Brien, who was killed in Mandeville on February 8.

In his weekly Commissioner's Corner column, Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake cautioned against losing sight of the human impact behind the statistics.

"Statistical progress does not diminish the human cost of violence," Blake stated, while acknowledging the recent spike in murders.

He stressed that the Jamaica Constabulary Force remains focused on crime reduction efforts and vowed that the recent surge would not derail progress.

Police say investigations and targeted operations have been intensified in divisions most affected by the recent wave of killings.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar, or on Whatsapp @ 876-550-250