By Halshane Burke 

There has been an increase in murders in the St. Ann Police Division compared to last year, despite statistics showing an overall reduction in crime.

Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell, head of the St. Ann Police Division, said there has been a 27 per cent reduction in criminal acitivity in the parish up to May 11.

But SSP Powell admitted that reducing murders continues to be a challenge for the lawmen. 

"Since the start of the year, we have seen some 25 murders when compared to 16 for the corresponding period last year. We are showing an increase of nine murders or 53 per cent in that index," he outlined. 

The senior cop said many of the murders have resulted from domestic conflicts.

"As a parish, we are not settling amicably our domestic concerns. And so, again, we are using the opportunity to advise persons to use the dispute resolution centres or the restorative centres or the justice centres that are established across the parish," he urged.  

He was addressing a recent meeting of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation.

As it relates to robberies, SSP Powell said there has been a significant reduction in these incidents, noting that 16 robberies were recorded up to May 14, compared with 41 for the corresponding period in 2022.