Police High Command Releases January Crime Statistics
The recently released January halfway mark crime report by the Police High Command revealed that 33 individuals lost their lives due to violent incidents. According to the police, this figure is consistent with the statistics from the same period in 2023.
Notably, the final murder count for 2023 stood at 1393, a decrease from the previous year’s 1511 cases.
The report highlighted that thirteen out of the 19 police divisions in Jamaica have reported at least one murder since the beginning of 2024.
Of particular concern is the St James police division, which topped the murder count in the past two years. It has already recorded nine murders this year, compared to five at the same period last year. Similarly, the St Ann division has registered five homicides so far this year, a notable increase from zero murders during the corresponding period in the previous year.
In contrast, Trelawny, St Mary, Clarendon, Kingston Western, St Andrew North, and St Thomas police divisions have not yet documented any murders this year.
Furthermore, the report highlighted a concerning uptick in shootings, with 39 incidents recorded, indicating a 50% surge compared to the previous year. Additionally, the number of individuals injured in shootings has risen by 52%, from 20 to 32 cases.
However, the report also indicated a decline in reported cases of rape and robbery.
OIL SPILL LEADS TO MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN MANCHESTER, JAMAICA.
A harrowing incident unfolded on Monday, January 15, 2024, when emergency services rushed to the perilous Spur Tree Main Road in response to an oil spill. The event resulted in a multi-vehicle accident, with one individual requiring hospitalization.
At approximately 7:00 a.m., the thoroughfare became impassable due to the spill, which involved four vehicles. Distressing reports revealed that affected commuters, including school children, had to complete their journeys on foot.
In the aftermath, police and firefighters diligently worked to clear the oil spill. The affected roadway, Spur Tree Hill Main Road, serves as a crucial link between Mandeville in Manchester and St Elizabeth.
Police arrested four after guns and ammo seizure in St. Elizabeth.
Law enforcement officers detained four individuals, one of whom is female, in St Elizabeth on Monday, January 15, 2024. This action came after the seizure of two prohibited weapons and over 100 rounds of ammunition during an operation in the Pepper and Goshen communities.
Coleridge Minto, the commanding officer of the St. Elizabeth Police Department, informed Radio Jamaica News that the police carried out searches in several residences, resulting in the confiscation of a 9mm pistol and a stash of 9mm rounds. Additionally, the authorities seized a Remington 12 gauge shotgun and 12 gauge cartridges.
Superintendent Minto emphasized that Monday’s operation, conducted by personnel from the Specialized Operations Branch and the Canine Division, is part of the authority’s anti-gang initiative in the parish.