KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Murders continue to trend downward in the St. Catherine South Police Division, with 50 homicides reported since the start of the year, representing a 40 per cent reduction over the 84 for the same period in 2024.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Area Five, Christopher Phillips, said that the decline is a significant achievement for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
“A 40 per cent reduction in murders… this is no ordinary accomplishment for St. Catherine South, for Area Five and for the entire JCF,” he noted.
ACP Phillips said that the decline signals meaningful progress in the country’s fight against violent crime, reflecting the impact of targeted policing and community-based interventions.
“We have not achieved this in years, and it simply means that as a people, if we are determined, we can turn things around for our country, and it has started,” he stated.
“When I came here as the divisional commander, we were seeing 132 murders… now it is 50, a significant cut in murders,” he said, declaring that further reductions are expected in the coming year.
“It will be no fooling around, especially in St. Catherine, no fooling around with criminals and their activities,” ACP Phillips said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Leighton Gray said that the division has recorded sustained reductions across several major crime categories.
“St. Catherine South Division has been enjoying a significant reduction in murders, shootings, and by extension, major crimes,” he reported.
SSP Gray attributed the gains to the dedication of police personnel and the cooperation of residents across the division.
“It is because of the work of the men and women who are here, and also the support of you, the residents out there,” he said.
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