Assault, wounding leading crime stats in South Central Division

Offenses against the person, including assault, wounding, and shootings were the most frequent crimes committed in the South Central Division in 2023.

These statistics were revealed by Divisional Commander for the South Central Division, Superintendent of Police David Trumpet during a town hall meeting on the upcoming gun amnesty.

Residents from surrounding communities met at the Calliaqua Town Hall on Thursday February, 8,2024 for the first in a three-part series of public meetings to educate persons on the 90-day gun amnesty which runs from March 1 to May 31.

SoP Trumpet provided an overview of the crime statistics for the Division which includes the communities of Calliaqua, Stubbs, Mesopotamia, Biabou, Lowmans Windward, Evesham, and surrounding districts.

There was a 54 percent increase in reported wounding offenses, with 31 being recorded in 2022 compared to 48 in 2023. Reports

of assaults saw an increase of 16 per cent with 67 reports recorded in 2022 and 78 in 2023.

Gun-related offenses recorded in 2022 and 2023 were also an area of concern, with the Divisional Commander highlighting that 10 murders were committed in the district in 2022, and nine in 2023. A total of 48 firearm related incidents were recorded in 2022 and 2023.

The categories of crime where decreases were seen are theft burglary and robberies.

SoP Trumpet said residents assisted in bringing the majority of the incidents before the court.