Superintendent Coleridge Minto, head of the St Elizabeth Police Division, says that there has been a 32 per cent decrease in major crimes across the parish.

Providing a breakdown of the crime statistics last Friday (July 19) at the handover of a housing unit under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in the Donegal district, Minto noted that shootings have decreased by 12 per cent; robberies are down by 27 per cent; aggravated assaults, down by 33 per cent, and break-ins have decreased by 52 per cent.

The superintendent disclosed that there have been four more murders and rape cases remain unchanged when compared to the same period last year.

Minto said the overall reduction in major criminal activities signals a positive trend in police enforcement and public safety, and that police operational activities across the parish continue.

He attributed the uptick to several factors, including domestic violence and gang-related activities.

“Also, as you know, St. Elizabeth lies between some of the other police divisions where we have persons moving across various borders. However, with the support from Area 3 and the Specialised Operations team from Kingston, we hope that we will be able to keep the figures down and reduce the number in coming weeks,” Superintendent Minto said.

In addition to crime statistics, he reported a significant improvement in road safety.

Superintendent Minto noted that fatal vehicle collisions have decreased from 21 to 15, with fatalities dropping from 23 to 17, when compared to the same period last year.

This change, he said, is due to enhanced operational activities throughout the parish. Additionally, he said the division has also intensified its traffic law-enforcement efforts, noting that traffic tickets issued have risen from 6,202 to 21,065.