St Andrew North only murder-free division as Jamaica records 29% drop in killings

The St Andrew North police division remains the only one of Jamaica’s 19 policing divisions without a murder since the start of the year, according to the latest crime statistics published by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on Sunday.

Up to March 28, St Andrew North, which is led by Superintendent Randy Sweeny, stood alone with zero murders.

Just a week ago, Kingston Central was also in that category.

However, that changed following the killing of 30-year-old Damion 'Danger' Henry, who was shot on Wednesday evening in an unofficial car park adjacent to the Kingston Public Hospital.

Henry was one of 12 people murdered across Jamaica during the week March 22–28. The country’s weekly homicide count returned to double digits after two consecutive weeks of single-digit figures.

Despite this, the broader picture shows a significant decline in violent crime.

Data from the JCF indicate that murders are down 29 per cent, with 130 killings recorded up to March 28. This represents 54 fewer murders compared to the 184 recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

Other major crime categories are also trending downward, with shootings, injuries, rape, robbery and break-ins all showing declines. This has contributed to an overall 25 per cent reduction in major crimes islandwide.

Among the divisions, St James has recorded the highest number of murders so far this year with 18, followed by St Andrew South with 15. Clarendon has reported 12 murders, Kingston Western 10, and Manchester nine, rounding out the five divisions with the highest homicide counts for the first quarter of 2026.

In his weekly Force Orders, published last Thursday, Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake highlighted continued progress in reducing serious crime, noting that the organisation remains focused on crime reduction and control as its “number one strategic priority”.

The commissioner also pointed to broader institutional reforms under the Force’s transformation programme, particularly the “People, Quality and Technology” initiative. He stressed that while significant investments have been made in digital systems and infrastructure, the effectiveness of these tools depends on how well members of the force use them in daily operations.

Blake underscored that technology alone cannot solve crime challenges.

He said systems such as case management, crime intelligence platforms, and vehicle monitoring tools are intended to improve decision-making, accountability, and operational efficiency across divisions.

"Technology, as powerful as it may be, does not solve problems on its own. Its real value lies in how it is used by us, disciplined, thinking, professional police officers and civilian members," he said.

He further emphasised that accurate and timely data entry by officers strengthens intelligence gathering and enhances operational outcomes, ultimately contributing to safer communities.

"Simply put, technology enables us to work smarter. However, the success of this effort depends on something that no system can automate - our mindset," the commissioner said.

He added: "We have to resist the urge of seeing these tools as additional administrative burdens, but instead embrace them as essential instruments of modern policing. The information that you contribute at the end of your tour of duty, once entered accurately and timely, becomes a part of the intelligence picture down the road. However, he cautioned that the success of these systems depends on mindset, training, and compliance, rather than technology alone."

- Andre Williams

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