24 murders in two months, gun robberies up by 62 percent

The New Year has brought police no respite from the disturbing rise in serious crimes, with the Force’s Public Relations arm recording a 20 percent rise in murders and a 65 percent rise in firearm robberies at the end of February.
According to a statement issued yesterday, 24 murders were recorded at the end of February 2014 in comparison to 20 murders for the same period in 2013, which is a 20 percent increase. Of the 24 murders, four were of the disorderly type, five were committed during armed robberies, three were domestic-related, while the other 12 are so far undetermined.
Last January, Police recorded an alarming 70 percent increase in murders, and an overall seven percent increase in serious crimes, compared with the same period last year.
According to those statistics, 17 murders were recorded at the end of January 2014, while 10 murders occurred for the same period in 2013.
Of the 17 murders last month, four were of the disorderly type, three were committed during armed robberies three were domestic related, while the other seven are so far undetermined
At the end of February 2014, robbery under arms overall has increased by 42 percent, with 206 reports compared to 145 for the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 62 percent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 12 percent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
“An overall increase of one percent in serious crimes has been recorded at the end of February 2014 in comparison to the same period in 2013. The total number of reports of serious crimes made between January 01 and February 28, 2014, was 642 compared to 637 for the same period in 2013,” the release said.
At the end of January, police had stated that 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
In relation to traffic statistics for last month, there were 19 road fatalities from 18 accidents at the end of February 2014, while there were 19 road fatalities from 17 accidents for the same period in 2013.
Eight pedestrians lost their lives at the end of February 2014, while six motor cyclists, four pedal cyclists, and one passenger of a motor vehicle also lost their lives during this period.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 12 of the 18 fatal accidents recorded at the end of February 2014.
Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 13,321 cases being made against errant motorists unto the end of February 2014; of these total 3,418 cases were for speeding. There has been one road fatality o far for the month of March, 2014.