Newsboyphil Reporting from Kingston, Jamaica

 Police reporting success in 2006

Jamaica's murders climbed to over 600 last week. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie Green, this figure is 157 less than the same period last year.

National police statistic reveal that last month murders continued their downward trend dropping 26 per cent over the same period last year. Thus a total of 126 murders were committed, representing the fourth month of decline since the start of the year, with April being the only exception when 130 murders were recorded compared to 128 for the same month in 2005.

The police data for May also showed that 117 shootings were committed, a 21 per cent drop over the same month last year.In Eastern Kingston, police are reporting that their 90 day crime reduction action plan has led to a 62 % decline in Murders. Minister of National Security Peter Phillips have noted that crime levels remain High, despite a 21 % reduction in Crime since the start of the year. Last Month a police sergeant was ambushed and shot to death in Ensom City, a residential neighbourhood in the Island's Murder Capital Spanish Town, St Catherine, becoming the sixth cop to die this year.

Last year, 13 police officers were murdered.