Murders shoot past 100

 Forty-eight days into the year and the nation has already recorded more than 100 murders.

According to the latest crime statistics compiled by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), there were 119 reported murders between January 1 and February 15.

A breakdown of the data shows that there were 74 reported murders in January and 45 this month up to last Saturday, with Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, St James and Clarendon accounting for 87 of the total.

Despite this, the JCF statistics show that murders were down 10 per cent over the six-week period when compared with the 132 recorded for the corresponding period last year.

It also showed that except for shootings, which inched up nine per cent, all other categories of serious crimes are on the decline when compared with last year.

The JCF statistics show that while only six of the 19 police divisions islandwide reported an increase in murders, three divisions - Kingston Eastern, Hanover and St Elizabeth - recorded increases of more than 100 per cent for the six-week period.

The police say 61 per cent of the murders reported so far this year were gang related, while 26 per cent were committed by persons not affiliated to a gang.