MANDEVILLE:
CRIME IN Manchester is trending downward, compared to last year, according to police statistics.
When compared to figures for the same period last year, fourteen per cent less crimes were committed up to the end of September this year.
All categories of offences except murders saw a decrease, with break-ins and rapes registering the highest downturn. This year there were twenty seven cases of rape or sixteen less than last year while there were sixty five less break-ins than the two hundred reported last year.
However, domestic murders continue to be a worrying factor to the police according to Super-intendent Franklyn Mitchell.
Superintendent Mitchell, who is in charge of criminal investigation for the parish, was speaking during a public forum held by the police on November 26 at the Cecil Charlton Hall to inform residents of steps the police are taking to combat crime.
Of the 27 murders committed in the parish, 22 were the result of domestic disputes. Eighteen of these cases have been solved.
However, according to the superintendent, of grave concern to the lawmen are the cases of rape and carnal abuse. He said that there were 20 cases of reported carnal abuse or four less than last year.
The crime chief also had a stern warning for taxi drivers, who operate cars on behalf of other persons, urging them to be fair and honest towards the vehicle owners.
He also said that most serious crimes are being committed by persons from outside the parish, as, stolen goods, for example, have been found as far away as Portmore.
Assistant Commissioner Carl-ton Madix, officer in charge of the police in the parish, told The Gleaner that he was not satisfied with the crime level in the parish and he has implemented several measures to drive crime to a much lower level. He said he was encouraging residents to assist the police with information and to be on the look-out for unusual activities in their communities.
Every crime committed, he said, was one too much for there was a loser in every incident.
