The latest police statistics indicate that 13 more illegal guns were recovered last month compared to May 2007, but major crimes went up by 41 per cent.

According to the police, homicides spiked by 95 per cent, with 199 persons killed last month against the 102 murdered in May 2007.

There was a sixfold increase in the number of females killed, as 32 women were murdered compared with five in May 2007.

Fifteen children were slain in May, ironically celebrated as Child Month, with killings jumping by 700 per cent. Two children were murdered in May 2007.

The police, however, recovered a total of 57 firearms and 819 rounds of ammunition.

Mit's list

On Friday, the Major Investi-gation Task Force (MIT) released its list of the 10 most-wanted men in Kingston and St Andrew, while announcing that it was pursuing 78 suspects in relation to more than 400 criminal cases.

The St Andrew North Police Division accounts for six of the men, with the other suspects hailing from the St Andrew South, Kingston Central, St Andrew Central and Kingston Western divisions.

Superintendent Selvin Haye, commander of MIT, is appealing to the public for help in apprehending the suspects.

At least 800 persons have been killed in Jamaica this year, with the gun accounting for about 80 per cent of the murders. Approximately 79 per cent of homicides in 2007 were gun related.

CALL: the police at 119 or Operation Kingfish at 311.