The Area Two police division is reporting a decrease in serious and violent crimes, up to July 22 this year.
Area 2 comprises St Ann, St Mary and Portland and has the lowest aggregate murder rate across the country.
According to outgoing head of the division, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Fitz Bailey, there were 339 serious and violent crimes reported between January 1 and July 22 this year. The division recorded 450 serious crimes for the same period last year. This represents a decrease of 102 or 23 percent when compared with the same period last year.
Of the 339 serious crimes reported, 179 or 53 percent of these crimes were “cleared” through arrest or prosecution in the courts.
This ACP Bailey regarded as “very significant.”
The garden parish of St Ann contributed significantly to the crime statistics as they led the other two parishes with 196 or 58 percent of the serious and violent crimes.
St Mary added 82 or 24 percent, while Portland accounted for 61 percent or 18 percent of the crimes committed in Area Two up to July 22.
A total of 48 murders were committed across all three parishes in Area Two when compared to 58 in the same period last year. This represented a decrease of 10 or 17 percent.
In the national murder statistics, Area Two stands out as the police division with the lowest rate.
(See details of the stats and other stories from the press conference in the next issue of the North Coast Times)
