Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin has reassigned seven senior officers in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Senior Superintendent of Police George Quallo, who served as divisional commander for St Andrew Central, which recorded a total of 13 murders for the month of July, has been assigned to the Police Services Branch.

Supt Terrence Bent will replace Quallo as commander at the St Andrew Central Division. Bent is coming from the St Catherine South Division, where he served as divisional commander. He was also holding command of the St Catherine North Division.

27 murders

The two divisions had a combined total of 27 murders in July.

Taking over from Bent is Deputy Supt (DSP) Marlon Nesbeth, who was serving at the St Thomas Police Division.

DSP Michael Bailey will take over as the divisional commander for Kingston East, while Supt Assan Thompson leaves as commander to take control of the St Catherine North Police Division.

Supt Derrick Knight moves from the St Andrew South Police Division to Police Area Four Headquarters, while Senior Supt Donovan Graham has been reassigned from Area Four Headquarters to the St Andrew South Division.

Murders totalled 21 in the St Andrew South Division, the most for the month of July when compared to the other divisions.

Meanwhile, crime statistics show that, up to the end of July, approximately 958 people have been murdered in Jamaica.

Just a month ago, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced proposed new initiatives in Parliament, as part of efforts to get a hold on crime. Though there has been a reduction in the number of murders since the announcement, from 136 in June to 125 in July, the overall number of murders reflects a significant increase, up from 843 at July 31 last year.