22.8% Reduction in Six Categories of Serious Crimes

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting a 22.8 per cent reduction in six of the seven categories of serious and violent crimes committed between January and June 2016, compared to the corresponding period last year.

Deputy Director General, Richard Lumsden, says these include aggravated assault, break-ins, larceny, rape, robbery, and shootings.

Mr. Lumsden indicated that the number of offences committed decreased from 151 per 100,000 persons to 117 per 100,000.

He was speaking at the PIOJ’s quarterly media briefing at the Institute’s New Kingston head office on August 24, where he provided an update on key indicators of national well-being under the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan.

Mr. Lumsden said, however, that there was a 2.4 per cent increase in the seventh category, murder, which rose to 22.2 per 100,000 during the review period, up from 21.7 per 100,000 in 2015.

Murders aside, he said the figures reflect the “continued downward trend in overall crime rates that began in June 2010, into a sixth consecutive year”.

In the other area reported on, labour force quality, Mr. Lumsden said the number of persons who have acquired vocational or professional certification increased 25.4 per cent, as at April 2016.

This, he indicated, is 0.6 per cent more than the corresponding period last year.

Mr. Lumsden said the figure is based on the results of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica’s (STATIN) Labour Force Survey that was conducted in April.