Murders, other major crimes maintain reduction as 2025 nears end

 

With just nine days remaining in 2025, Jamaica has recorded a significant reduction in murders and other major crimes, according to the latest police crime statistics. 

 

The latest numbers were published by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on Monday morning. 

 

As at December 20, Jamaica's murder toll stood at 649, representing a 43% reduction when compared with the corresponding period last year. Around this time last year, 1,136 people were killed. 

 

Last week, the country was rocked by a domestic trooper murder in Rocky Point, Clarendon, after a man allegedly chopped three members of his family in an area called Frazersfield. The incident is currently under investigation. 

 

The decline in murders, however, continues a trend that law enforcement officials and policymakers have credited to intensified policing strategies, targeted operations, and increased intelligence-driven interventions. As at December 20, five of the 19 police divisions have recorded 50 or more murders. These include St. Andrew South, 74; St. Catherine North, 63; St. Ann, 60; St. James, 52; and St. Catherine South, 50. 

 

Notably, 17 of the 19 divisions recorded a reduction in murders year on year. Only St. Thomas and St. Ann are showing year on year increases in homicides. 

 

Data from the JCF also show that most major crime categories are down. Murders, shootings, cases of injured persons, and reported incidents of rape have all recorded decreases year on year. 

 

However, the crime update indicates that robberies and break-ins remain areas of concern, as these are the only major crime categories showing 8 per cent and 19 per cent increases, respectively, for the period under review. 

 

Police sources note that these offences continue to impact residential communities and commercial areas, particularly during the traditionally busy holiday season. The JCF has maintained a heightened security posture across several divisions, including increased patrols, curfews in crime-prone communities, and ongoing operations targeting known offenders. 

 

At the same time, Assistant Commissioner Michael Phipps, head of the Area 4 Police headquarters, says increased targeting of criminal networks, gang leaders and cooperation by members of the public have led to a significant reduction in murders and shootings in the Corporate Area - the lowest in 30 years. 

 

Area 4 covers the St. Andrew South, Kingston Western, Kingston Eastern, Kingston Central and St. Andrew Central Police Divisions. 

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, ACP Phipps said increased policing led to significant reduction in murders and when known crime hotspots in the St. Andrew South and Kingston Western divisions this year. 

 

"The Area recorded some 177 murders when compared to 337 for the corresponding period of 2024. And this is suggesting that we managed to save 160 lives or had a 47.5 percentage reduction in our murders. This, I must hasten to point out, represents in a historical achievement, whereby it is the lowest number of murders being reported across Area 4 within the last 31 years. I am more than pleased that our concerted efforts are yielding the desired results. And this significant drop represents the very good and sustained efforts by the entire team and others who supports us," he said.