A total of 1,129 people were murdered in the country up to Saturday, December 21.

This is 246 fewer than the 1,375 murders recorded in the same period last year.

St. James had the highest number of murders with 125, while Portland had the lowest with 13.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force is also reporting a decline in incidents of rape, robberies and break-ins.

Cases of rape declined by 121, robberies by 159 and break-ins decreased by 6.