Major crimes down in Clarendon

 

Clarendon continues to set the pace for peace with a significant drop in murders since the start of the year. 

 

This was revealed by head of operations for the division, Deputy Superintendent Anton-Gur Cardoza, who says murders are down 53 per cent and shootings by 40 per cent. 

 

The division has also recorded an overall 27 per cent reduction in major crimes. 

 

While updating Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness on the crime situation in the parish, DSP Cardoza credited the strategic action taken by the police for the gains recorded. 

 

"This, we attribute, sir, to our continued intelligence-driven policing, our community engagements and our stakeholder partnerships with other agencies and the community. So we are looking forward to continuing to sustain this effort and further reduce crime throughout the year," he said. 

 

In 2024, the parish recorded 69 murders, compared with 105 for the previous year, despite the August 11 Cherry Tree Lane tragedy in which eight people were shot and killed and nine others injured.

 

DSP Cardoza stressed the need for soft policing tactics.

 

"There is a place for tactical policing, hard policing, but we find a great benefit in the softer side - our community engagement. So we find that we part of what drives our intel driven operation is from the communities themselves. So our engagement with them, we get information and intelligence. And that is one of the main reasons why we have been able to reduce crime so significantly within the parish."

 

He said the police have frequent patrols as well as community meetings and walkthroughs.