Official figures released yester-day showed 152 murders in May, the highest-single monthly total since the start of this year.

That was 30 more than the number of killings recorded in April, which had held the distinction of being the worst month of this year.

Though the spike in killings last month brought the murder toll for the year to 628, that figure represents 60 fewer than reported for the corresponding period last year.

In fact, a month-over-month comparison shows a 24 per cent decline in murders in May 2009 compared with May 2008 when 199 persons were killed.

There was also an 11 per cent decline in shootings and a 17-per-cent decline in rapes in May compared with the corresponding period last year.

However, the reported cases of carnal abuse increased by 25 per cent while the economic crimes of robbery, carnal abuse and break-in all increased sharply during May.

Major Crimes: May 2009 vs 2008

	2009	2008	+/-%
Murders	152	199	-24%
Shootings	140	158	-11%
Rapes	53	64	-17%
Carnal abuse	25	20	+25%
Robberies	242	230	+5%
Break-ins	319	191	+67%
Larcenies	39	27	+44%