Above: Kingston (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Major crimes are down in Jamaica by double figures, according to National Security Minister Peter Bunting.

The Minister reported this week that the country is seeing major drops in a number of categories.

“Serious and violent crimes (are) down year-to-date on average by double digit percentages (with) murder by 11 per cent, shooting by six per cent, rape by 17 per cent, and aggravated assault down 26 per cent,” Bunting told the House of Representatives this week.

He also said that fatal police shootings had fallen by 46 percent for the year to date, with “acquisitory” crimes such as robberies down by 11 percent.

According to Bunting, the government is seeing progress in its push to tackle the problem of organized crime, as well.

“Already, the police have arrested and charged 600 persons in just 15 months that the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act has been in effect,” he said. “All 20 cases that have already been disposed of in the courts have resulted in convictions. We anticipate similar success with the recently passed anti-gang legislation.”