Crime Officer Says Hundreds Of Lives Saved In 2020

Hundreds saved in 2020: As of December 12, 2020, the country’s murder rate stands at 1, 251. This is two per cent lower than  2019.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of the Crime Portfolio, Fitz Bailey says the police have managed to prevent hundreds of contract killings this year.

In their efforts to hold alleged perpetrators accountable for murder,  Bailey says the police have seen a twenty-one percent increase in murder charges that have been laid in the courts.

In the Corporate Area alone,163 persons were arrested for murder.

To add, he says the quality of the investigations have led to a noted increase in criminals pleading guilty and more attorneys seeking plea bargains. 

States of Public Emergency that were imposed across the island were lifted ahead of the 2020 Parliamentary election.

However, in the absence of the enhanced security measures,  DCP Bailey says the police are using other available crime-fighting strategies.

He says  as at the end of November the police have been seeing the  results  of the new measures. 

All major crimes are down except shootings.

DCP Fitz Bailey says Jamaicans can be assured that the murder rate will not surpass that of 2019. 

CVM Live‘s Christeen Forbes reports: