There has been a notable decrease in the number of people killed by the security forces for the first quarter of 2014, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is reporting.

According to the commission, the end of the first quarter recorded a total of 40 fatalities, which are 36 fewer than the first quarter of 2013 in which 76 fatalities had been recorded.

THE weekend STAR understands this represents a 47.3 per cent drop in the number of fatalities.

INDECOM had already reported that in March, the commission recorded only four fatalities, the lowest in the commission's history.

In 2013, 19 fatalities were recorded in March, which represents a decrease of 78.9 per cent.

INDECOM also notes that for the past three years, the annual figures for fatalities have been increasing with 210 people killed in 2011, 219 in 2012 and 258 in 2013.

Meanwhile, INDECOM's boss, Terrence Williams, acknowledged that he is encouraged by the drop in fatalities and hopes the number will continue on a downward trajectory.

Williams also noted that it is particularly refreshing, given the report of the general decline in crime during the current period.