Five-Year Low for Serious and Violent Crimes

Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, says there has been a gradual decrease in serious and violent crimes over the past five years, due to the tireless work of the security forces to maintain law and order.

“We are actually maintaining a five-year downward trend in serious violent crimes, which means that Jamaica is getting safer year after year, based on the hard work being done by the security forces and the co-operation that we are getting from the citizens and the policy guidance that we are getting from the Ministry of National Security,” he said.

The Commissioner was responding to questions from journalists at a post-Sectoral Debate presentation press conference, hosted at Jamaica House, on Wednesday, May 14, by the Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting.

Declaring that the “outlook is good”, Mr. Ellington informed that the figures for these crimes are “the lowest (they) have been in about 13 years.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Bunting noted that the 33 per cent reduction in serious and violent crimes over the past five years is significant.

Providing a breakdown of the figures, the Minister said murders year to date, relative to last year, are down eight per cent.

“But, if we look at the five-year trend, they are down 44 per cent compared with 2010. Shooting is essentially flat, 2014 versus 2013. But again, if we look at the five-year trend, it’s down 36 per cent when compared to 2010,” he informed.

The Minister pointed out that all serious and violent crimes, including rape and aggravated assault, are down 11 per cent; rape is down by 15 per cent, while aggravated assault is down 31 per cent.

“The total for (petty) crimes, which include robbery, break-in and larceny, for 2014 versus 2013, is down 13.6 per cent and over the fiver-year trend, down 31 per cent,” he said.