JCF records 20% decline in murders, Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica: The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has reported a decline of approximately 20 per cent in the country’s murders. The week prior, 13 murders were committed in the nation. 

The JCF indicated that the island’s murder tally rose to 19 last week, which brought the total to 65 as of January 27. Amid a drop in murders, the latest police serious crimes statistics observed that all divisions across Jamaica have recorded homicides. 

Noting this, this is a change from the same period last year when St Andrew Central, Portland and Trelawny were murder-free. Currently, they have recorded five, two, and one homicide, respectively.

Reported murder rate in Divisions

– Adding to the facts, St James recorded the highest number of homicides every year, twice in a row. It is considered one of those 12 most murderous divisions.

– The division is followed by the St Ann Police Division, which witnessed a hundred per cent jump with eight murders.

– Moreover, St Catherine North and South divisions have counted seven and five murders, respectively.

Fortunately, there is a decline in rape and break-in cases for the time being. It is to be noted that the cases related to shootings, injured persons, and robbery have been increased.

As a matter of concern, Jamaica is listed as the number fourth on the list of the most murderous countries in the Caribbean.

PM Holness on crimes

Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued a statement regarding the crimes in the country during an address at the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) 19th Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference. The conference was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston last Tuesday.

In a statement, he informed that serious crimes, including shootings, murders, rapes, robberies and break-ins, have declined by 10.7 per cent, the lowest in 22 years.

He further said that murders declined by 7.8 percent in 2023 and 21.9 percent in the first 22 days of 2024 compared to 2023.

While commending the significant progress made in tackling crime in a sustainable manner, Prime Minister Holness stressed the need to tackle violence in society.