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Jamaica's murder rate inches up

With three weeks remaining before the end of the year, Jamaica's murder rate continues to rise.

Latest figures obtained by RJR News show that the number of murders recorded this year have surpassed last year's total.

Up to Saturday, a total of 1,126 murders had been recorded, compared to 1,025 during the corresponding period last year.

A total of 1,097 murders were recorded in Jamaica last year. A breakdown of the figures shows that St. James, Clarendon and St. Catherine North and South Divisions continue to be a major headache for crime fighters.

One hundred and forty-five murders have been committed in St. James, compared to 142 in 2012.

Clarendon has seen a rise in murders from 79 last year to 110 so far this year.

One hundred and eighteen murders have been recorded for the St. Catherine North Division compared to 105 last year.

Ninety six murders have been committed in the St. Catherine South Division which covers Portmore, while there were also spikes in the West Kingston and Kingston Central Police Divisions.

St. Mary, which normally records a low number of murders, has so far recorded 24, up from 18 last year.

In a major push to keep the crime rate down, the police and military have been carrying out a number of raids in search of wanted men and illegal guns under Operation Resilience.

More than 600 illegal guns have been seized this year.

Last week, Peter Bunting, Minister of National Security reported that there was a downward trend in reported crimes. Mr. Bunting revealed that there are now three murders per day.

In September crime statistics revealed that nearly five persons were murdered daily.                                               



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