Shelly-Ann Thompson, Gleaner Writer

Minister of National Security, Peter Phillips, has said that he has every confidence that the murder rate will decreas the nation's figures of the quarter for murder have surpassed that of the same period last year.

Speaking with The Gleaner on Friday, Minister Phillips said that security strategies and measurers such as tackling violent areas and communities are being strengthened.

"I still have confidence that it (murder figures) will go down," said Phillips.

The minister noted that the country might be experiencing an increase in murders currently as the police force is coming down hard on 'troubled areas' which are in turn retaliating, thereby increasing the murder toll.

Thus far, there have been at least 383 murders in 13 weeks. Statistics revealed Wednesday by the Jamaica Constabulary Force also show that, except for February, each month in comparison to 2006 recorded an increase in murders.

148 against 117

The murder figure for January stood at 148 against 117 in 2006, February had 95 homicides, a reduction from 100 last year, while there were 122 killings in March, compared to 97 in the corresponding month last year.

At the end of the first quarter, there were 51 more murders than the first three months of last year.

At the same time, total crime for the quarter has seen an increase to 595 from 583 in 2006.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com