Jamaica records 33 murders in the first 13 days of the year

SOURCE: Jamaica Gleaner – The first serious crime report by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for 2024 shows that 33 murders were committed as at January 13, which is on par with the corresponding period in 2023.

At the same time last year, the country had also recorded 33 murders.

Thirteen of the 19 police divisions in Jamaica have had one or more murders since the start of 2024.

The St James police division, which led the country in murders for consecutive years, has seen nine people killed so far this year, compared with five in 2023.

St Ann has recorded five homicides as at the period under review, whereas no murder had been committed in the parish up to that time last year.

The Trelawny, St Mary, Clarendon, Kingston Western, St Andrew North and St Thomas police divisions have zero murders.

Shootings have increased by 50 per cent with 39 incidents.

There is also an increase in the number of injured persons, with 32 reports compared to 20 the previous year.

Rape and robbery have declined.