ST JAMES, Jamaica — The St James police received heavy commendations on Thursday after reporting an eight-year low in murders committed in the parish for April.

Law enforcers revealed that for April, only six persons were murdered in the parish. The revelation was made by Superintendent Eron Samuels at the monthly council meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation.

“The work of the police and the military has seen a reduction in murders and shootings over the last month,” he remarked.

“In fact, for the month of April we saw the division recording the lowest murder figure for a month since 2016 with six murders. A little too much just to say but the efforts of the division must be noted,” he added.

He explained that several factors contributed to this success.

“It could be for a number of factors, one of which is the policing activities that we did. Since January, we have been working really hard within the spaces, trying to control the different conflicts,” he remarked. He also highlighted the work being done islandwide by the security forces as a contributing factor.

“In April, there was an initiative right across the country to hold crime down and I believe that we benefitted from the work being done right across all divisions within the space and it is something that we hoped to continue especially in Area One to push at criminals right across the area,” he said.

This news was welcomed by those present, given that the parish of St James continues to lead in the number of murders committed since the start of the year. Up to May 4, 48 people have been killed across the parish.

However, according to the latest police data, St James has seen a slight decline in murders, which stood at 56 when compared to the same period last year.

Councillor for the Montego Bay South East division, Arthur Lynch, thanked the police for their recent success.

“I must say, on behalf of the residents of Montego Bay South East, we must commend the hard-working officers of the parish of St James for what they have been doing in reducing crime and violence and the recovery of weapons in the past months, I must say commendations to the team,” Lynch stated.

Mount Salem Division Councillor Kerry Thomas also praised the work of the security forces.

“Glad to hear the report that we are making significant progress and we need to maintain that,” he said.