Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas' promise, made in January, that 2007 would not see more bloodshed than last year, is being met with scepticism.

Thus far, there have been 383 murders in 13 weeks. Statistics revealed Wednesday by the Jamaica Constabulary Force also show that, except for February, each month in comparison to 2006 recorded an increase in murders.

The murder figure for January stood at 148 against 117 in 2006, February had 95 homicides, a reduction from 100 last year, while there were 122 killings in March, compared to 97 in the corresponding month last year.

At the end of the first quarter, there were 51 more murders than the first three months of last year.

At the same time, total crime for the quarter has seen an increase to 595 from 583 in 2006.

In March, compared to the same period of last year, the statistics also show that there was an increase in shootings, rapes, break-ins and larceny, while carnal abuse and robbery showed a reduction.