Four hundred and nine persons were killed since the start of the year, according to the most statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

According to the JCF statistics, this is a 16.4 per cent decline compared to the previous year, when the country recorded 489 during the same period.

From the JCF statistics, the police division of St James accounted for the highest number of murders for the month with 54. This is followed by Clarendon with 39, Westmoreland with 36, Kingston Western with 33 and St Andrew South with 31.

The St Catherine South police division recorded 28 murders, followed closely by St Catherine North (27), St Ann (23), Hanover (21) while Manchester and Kingston Eastern both recorded (20).

Meanwhile, St Andrew North recorded 16 murders, St Andrew Central (14), Kingston Central (13), St Mary (11), St Thomas (9), St Elizabeth (7), Trelawny (4) and Portland (3) recorded the least number of homicides for the period.

The report also revealed a sharp reduction in shootings, rape, robbery, and burglary for the period.