Caption: Jamaican police at a murder scene. Photo: CMC

Summary

• Murder Rate Plummets: The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported a 29.4 % decrease in murders between January 1 and March 14, dropping to 113 compared to 160 during the same period last year.
• Across-the-Board Declines: Other serious crimes also saw notable reductions, with shootings dropping from 163 to 103, robberies declining by 19.1 %, and a slight decrease in reported rape cases.
• Historic Progress: The continued drop in crime follows a milestone year in 2025, when Jamaica recorded fewer than 700 murders for the first time in 31 years, a psychological barrier Prime Minister Andrew Holness aims to keep breaking.

KINGSTON,JAMAICA — The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported on Monday that serious crimes, including murder, have declined significantly during the period of January 1 to March 14 this year.

According to the latest figures, murders declined by 29.4 percent, totalling 113 compared to 160 for the same period last year. The data shows the biggest declines were in Westmoreland, St. Ann, Portland, Western Kingston, St. Andrew South, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas, where the reduction rates ranged from 22.2 percent to 80 percent.

However, some policing divisions—including St. James, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Eastern Kingston—saw increases ranging from 23.1 percent to 250 percent.

The JCF noted that certain areas, such as Trelawny and Central Kingston, recorded the exact same number of murders this year as they did last year, ranging from two to eight killings.

Beyond murders, the JCF also reported a sharp decline in shootings, which fell from 163 to 103. There was a slight decrease in rape cases, dropping from 67 to 61, while 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 further reduce the country’s murder rate, following a historic milestone where Jamaica recorded fewer than 700 murders in 2025.

Holness highlighted that this was the first time in 31 years that Jamaica had recorded fewer than 700 murders.

“We have cracked the psychological barrier of 1,000 murders per year,” he said, adding that last year represented a third consecutive year of declining murder rates 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. (CMC)