Gangsters retreat - Crime dips dramatically in June but Commish not yet ready to celebrate

Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington is urging the nation to hold the champagne and delay the celebrations despite a dramatic decline in crime last month.

While expressing satisfaction with the June numbers - which show most major crimes declining - Ellington yesterday said the fight against criminals is far from over.

"The downward trend, though encouraging, leaves no room for complacency and so the security forces will be continuing their anti-crime operations islandwide in a resolute and coordinated manner," Ellington said in a media release.

Resolute approach to continue

With the police still on high alert amid reports that gangsters from west Kingston are regrouping in Denham Town, Ellington argued that the resolute approach to fighting crime must continue if there is to be any further success.

"The Police High Command commends members of the security forces for their untiring efforts in this particular period and is urging all members to remain committed to the task at hand.

"The High Command also thanks the citizens of Jamaica for their continued support, cooperation and patience," Ellington said.

He listed the state of emergency introduced in Kingston and St Andrew late May, before being extended to St Catherine last month, and the numerous curfews across the island, as factors which assisted in the crime reduction.

"The police are attributing the decreases in the crime figures for June to coordinated counter-gang activities supported by emergency powers granted under the state of emergency," Ellington said.

Reaping success

The police have seized dozens of guns, thousands of rounds of firearms and have taken several suspected gangsters into custody since the offensive against crime was launched in May.

This has disrupted the operations of several gangs and forced many criminals into hiding.

That offensive is being reflected in the crime figures released by the police yesterday which show reduction in the number of murders, shootings, rapes, carnal abuse cases, robberies, and break-ins in June.

Overall, there was a 21 per cent decline in major crimes last month when compared to the corresponding period last year.

According to police statistics, there were 758 major crimes in June, down from 964 in June 2009. When compared to May 2010, the crime figures are down 18 per cent.

The number of recorded murders decreased by 24 per cent (29), moving down from 120 in June 2009 to 91 in 2010.

The difference is even more encouraging when the June figures are placed beside the May numbers.

In May, 178 persons were murdered across the island making the June reduction an encouraging 49 per cent.

The usual problem police divisions, Kingston Western, St Andrew North; St Catherine North; St Catherine South; St James and Clarendon continued to pose challenges for the security forces but even in those areas the decline in the number of murders was notable.

One hot spot, St Andrew South, which includes crime-prone communities such as Waterhouse, Drewsland, Maverly and Seaview Gardens, recorded no murders for the month.

There were also no murders in Hanover, St Elizabeth and Kingston Central which includes the volatile communities of South Side, Tel Aviv and parts of downtown Kingston.

Fifty-two illegal guns were seized by the police during the month, up from 41 in June 2009.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

June 2010 May 2010 Difference % Difference

Murder -