Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:

Murders are trending down in the St. James Police Division for the first time in three years, but rapes and robberies are on the increase, says Superintendent Steve McGregor, commanding officer for the parish.

"St. James is becoming the rape capital of Jamaica," he told The Gleaner.

"St. James has recorded 53 rapes since the beginning of the year, the highest in the country. There were 23 rapes last year this time."

"As such, we have boosted our staff at the Rape Unit, putting in a mobile component to the team. We are also sensitising people with our public-education campaign through the media and community meetings," the officer added.

Taxi drivers identified

The police say 90 per cent of the rapes occur at nights, especially in the Granville police area and the Salt Spring and Rosemount communities. Most of the victims have identified taxi drivers, including robot operators, as their attackers.

"We have already arrested nine men for rape-related offences," said Supt. McGregor.

Turning his attention to homicides, he said 66 murders - 32 of which have been cleared up - have already been recorded in St. James. This is six fewer than the figure for the corresponding period in 2006.

Last year, 178 persons were killed in the parish, 39 more than in 2005.

Shooting is also trending down, with 63 reported cases, compared to 67 last year. Investigators have also managed to clear up 27 of these incidents.

However, robberies have increased by 43 when compared to the 70 cases that were on the books for the period last year.

"We are attributing this rise to the clampdown on the lottery scam and the drug trade. We are seeing quite a number of petty robberies, which is why we have augmented our mobile patrols," Supt. McGregor said.

nagra.plunkett@gleanerjm.com