The Police High Command  has released statistics confirming that all major crimes including murders, shooting, rape, carnal abuse, robbery, break-ins and larceny, declined by seven per cent in 2010, when compared with 2009. It is the first decline in 11 years.

Murders, considered to be the key crime indicator, decreased by 15 per cent. There were 1,428 reported murders in 2010 compared with 1,682 in 2009, a decrease of 254.

Of the other major crimes, larceny showed the largest decline – moving down by 30 per cent.

Of significance also is the 10 per cent decline in reported shootings and rapes.

The six Police Geographic Divisions of  of the metropolitan region  – Kingston Eastern, Kingston Central, Kingston Western, St. Andrew South, St. Andrew Central and St. Andrew North all recorded declines in their murder rates.

Of these metropolitan divisions, Kingston Central recorded the largest percentage decline in murders at 47 per cent, moving from 55 murders in 2009 to 29 in 2010.

The tough St. Andrew South Division, always a challenge for the police, achieved a 36 per cent decline in murders. The division, which recorded 240 murders in 2009, recorded 153 in 2010.  

Meanwhile policing in the rural parishes also reaped success.

Of the rural police divisions, the eastern parish of Portland achieved the largest percentage decline in murders. The parish, which saw the biggest drop in murders in the country, had a 55 per cent decline, moving from 20 murders in 2009 to nine in 2010.

And the police also made significant gains in the seizure of guns and ammunition during 2010.

Nearly 36,000 rounds of ammunition were seized by the police last year compared with the just over 6,000 rounds seized in 2009, which represents a 484 per cent increase.

The number of guns seized increased by 20 per cent, moving from 567 in 2009 to 685 in 2010. Of that number, 349 were pistols.