Though murders are up in St Ann, all other categories of crime have gone down, the police report.Deputy superintendent of police, Ryan Gayle says crime has decreased by 19 per cent in the St. Ann Division since the start of the year, compared to 2013. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the St. Ann Parish Council, DSP Gayle said all categories of major crimes with the exception of murders have been reduced.Up to last week Wednesday, murders this year had gone up by five compared to last year. As at December 10, there had been 35 murders committed in the division. Nineteen of these murders were committed using guns and 16 by use of cutting implements.DSP Gayle added that domestic disputes have largely been contributing to conflicts that often end up in aggravated assaults and in some cases murder.He continued by saying that the parish has been experiencing theft of farm produce and cattle and agricultural produce are the main target.DSP Gayle said that of the 11 stations in the division, Ocho Rios, St. Ann’s Bay, Brown’s Town and Runaway Bay Police Stations account for 70 per cent of the crimes recorded.
