Murders up by 70 percent in January
Police have recorded an alarming 70 percent increase in murders in January, 2014, and an overall seven percent increase in serious crimes, compared with the same period last year.
Statistics released yesterday by the Force’s Public Relations Office show that police received 341 reports of serious crimes during January 2014, compared with 318 reports in January 2013.
Some of the offences monitored are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
“A total of 17 murders were recorded at the end of January 2014, while 10 murders for the same period in 2013, a 70 percent increase,” the release stated.
Of the 17 murders, four were of the disorderly type, three were committed during armed robberies three were domestic related, while the other seven are so far undetermined.
The release also noted that at the end of January overall robbery under arms had increased by 44 percent with 105 reports, compared to 73 for the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 50 percent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 30 percent increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
In relation to traffic, there were 11 fatalities from 10 accidents in January 2014, compared to seven fatalities from six accidents during January 2013. January 2014 saw reductions in the other categories of accidents that are listed as serious, minor and damage.
Again, pedestrians have been the main road users affected, with six such persons having lost their lives at the end of January 2014. In addition, three motorcyclists and two pedal cyclists were killed.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of seven of the 10 fatal accidents recorded at the end of January 2014.
Traffic enforcement by the police during January 2014 resulted in a total of 3,946 cases being made against errant motorists; of this total 1,786 cases were for speeding.
To date, one other person has lost her life on the roadways for February 2014
