The crime statistics for the month of May, released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force yesterday, show a decline in major crimes like murder, shooting and rape when compared with the corresponding figures for this time last year.

The statistics, which represent the number of crimes committed from May 1 to May 31, show a 23.6 per cent decline in the number of murders committed during the month of May. Last May, 199 persons were murdered, while the figure for this year is 152. The figures for shooting have also trended downwards with 158 for the period last year and 140 this year. This downward trend also applies to the number of rapes, which has decreased, though slightly. During May last year, 64 incidents of rape were recovered. This year, there were 53.

Though these areas have seen a decline, robberies, break-ins, larcenies and incidents of carnal abuse have increased. There were 20 reported cases of carnal abuse last May, but this year, there were 25. And while there were 230 robberies in 2008, there have been 242 in May 2009. The reported cases of larceny moved from 27 last May to 39 in May 2009.