269 people were murdered in the country up to Saturday May 24.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force this is 199 fewer than the 468 homicides recorded in the same period last year.

The St. Andrew South Division had the highest number of murders with 36 followed by St. Catherine South with 24.

Hanover, and Trelawny saw the lowest number of murders with 5 each.

The JCF is also reporting that cases of rape declined by 74 and robberies by 6.

Meanwhile, break-ins increased by 73.