Jamaica Crime News, St James: Since the start of the year, a total of 77 persons have been murdered throughout the parish and the St James police are now reporting that, compared to over 260 persons murdered at this same period last year, the murder rate has declined drastically.
One police source told our news team that by December 31, 2018, the Area One police expects to hold the murder rate below the three figures.
St James recorded it’s highest murder count ever in the parish history in 2017. The parish recorded a whopping 337 murders at year-end last year and the highest also recorded Islandwide.
The bloodletting flowed over into January of 2018, with six murders being recorded in quick succession.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness quickly called a State of Public Emergency in the month of September and since then, the security forces have managed to place a lid on murders throughout the parish.