Gangs blamed for crime spike

Three weeks into the new year, the police are blaming gangs for the spike in serious crimes.
 According to police intelligence, each day there has been on average, 23 gang-related conflicts in sections of the island.
Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday that many of the conflicts lead to murders and other violent acts.
He also explained that the police are dealing with what they term anniversary violence.
"Criminal gangs either repeat certain acts of violence on certain dates of the year or they use those occasions for revenge on other gangs…..it's a combination of all of those"   
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He added that the sharp increase in murders at the start of the year  was also due to murders that were listed as domestic, and others committed during robberies.
The police commissioner says the police have responded to the spike in criminal activity by continuing its target on gangs as well as imposing limited curfews in some volatile areas.      
In addition to this he says the police will continue to do random spot checks and are working with the military in continuing patrols.

2011 Statistics
The Jamaica Constabulary Force  released statistics for last year confirming that there was a drop in crime.
   
The figures showed that although there was a reduction in most major crimes, the picture, as it relates to rape and robberies, shows an increase.
The police are reporting that in 2011....1, 125 murders were committed compared with 1, 442 in 2010, representing a  22% decrease in such crimes.
A decrease was also reported in shootings from 1, 517 in 2010 to 1, 327 last year.