KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Monday reported that serious crimes, including murder, had declined significantly during the period January 1 to March 14 this year. According to the latest figures released here, murders declined by 29.4 per cent, totalling 113 as compared with 160 for the same period last year.
The figures show that the biggest declines were in Westmoreland, St. Ann, Portland, western Kingston, St. Andrew South, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas, where the rates ranged from 22.2 per cent to 80 per cent.
However, St. James, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Eastern Kingston saw increases ranging from 23.1 per cent to 250 per cent.
The JCF said that St. Andrew South, Trelawny, and Central Kingston had recorded the same number of murders this year as had been the case last year, ranging from two to eight killings.
The JCF also reported a decline in shootings from 163 to 103, while there was a slight decrease in rape cases from 67 to 61, and robberies declined by 19.1 percent from 136 to 110.
In January, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness said his administration would continue to pursue strategies to reduce the country’s murder rate further, after Jamaica recorded fewer than 700 murders in 2025.
Holness said that this is the first time in 31 years that Jamaica has recorded fewer than 700 murders.
“We have cracked the psychological barrier of 1,000 murders per year,” he said, adding that last year had represented a third consecutive year of decline in murders in Jamaica.
“We are firmly heading toward attaining or bettering the regional average of 15 murders per 100,000. The objective of the government is for the country to attain peace,” Holness added.
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