The police in St Elizabeth have reported a significant reduction in major crimes across the parish since the start of the year with only murders being the exception.

Thanks to collaborative efforts by the police, citizens and other stakeholders, major crimes in the parish have been reduced by 35 per cent, compared to the January to September period of 2023.

Commanding Officer for the St Elizabeth Police Division, Superintendent Coleridge Minto shared news of the reduction at the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting in Black River on Thursday, September 12.

“Since the start of this year, 160 serious and violent crimes have been reported in the Division in comparison to the [figure for the] corresponding period last year… of 248. This is a reduction of 88 or 35 per cent of major crimes, year to date,” he outlined.

“Shootings are down by 29 per cent, robberies are down by 41 per cent, break-ins are down by 46 per cent, rapes are down by 15 per cent, and aggravated assaults are down by 35 per cent,” Minto added.

He shared that murders were slightly up.

“We are, however, seeing three more murders than we had last year – 23 now, versus 20 for the same period last year,” the senior officer added.

Minto expressed gratitude for the support provided by various partners and stakeholders in the police’s crime-fighting initiatives and reaffirmed his team’s commitment to ensuring safety and security in St Elizabeth.