The number of murders reported during Coronavirus lockdown has doubled compared to the same time last year, but police say there is no pattern in relation to the crimes.
Domestic violence calls to the PSNI have also been consistently higher than the weekly average since April 1.
Overall however, crime is down 27% according to new figures on crimes recorded by the PSNI in the nine weeks between lockdown on March 23, and May 24.
Death or serious injuries caused by unlawful driving dropped from 31 to four, while hundreds less cases of violence, rape and sexual offences were recorded.
Robberies and theft offences have almost halved.
Drug offences, including trafficking and possession were also down, by just over a fifth on average.
The stats, which were collated by the PSNI and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), were published in a “exceptional release” yesterday.
They show that crime has fallen across each of the main crime types while people were staying at home.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "There is no doubt the Covid-19 pandemic has created a uniquely challenging environment in which Police Service NI, and indeed wider society, must continue to function and operate.
"Despite the global health crisis, however, crime still occurs and, we must not forget that behind each statistic is someone who has become a victim of crime. The public can be assured that as a Police Service, our priority and our commitment to keeping people safe remains unchanged."
The first week of lockdown saw the biggest drop with statisticians noting that overall crime was at three fifths (62%) of the weekly average.
And the level of crime of crime appears to being creeping up as government measures are eased.
In the week beginning May 18, crime levels reached more than four fifths (83%) of the weekly average.
Police said they received 720 calls about domestic abuse from May 27 to June 2 - 80 higher than the previous week and the second highest weekly total since lockdown measures were introduced.
The highest number was recorded in the week beginning April 8 - at 721 - much higher than the weekly average of 570.
