Not a fluke
Top cop says fall in murders out west result of ‘deliberate policing’
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Glenford Miller is crediting “deliberate policing” for the reduction in murders in Area One. He said in 2023 there were more than 100 murders recorded than in 2024.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Area One includes St James, Trelawny, Hanover, and Westmoreland.
“The entire Area One is seeing a reduction in murders; over 102 murders less, when compared to the comparative period for 2023,” ACP Miller told the Jamaica Observer.
A look at the individual parishes shows that in Hanover there were 24 fewer murders up to December 28, falling from 72 to 48. Westmoreland moved from 116 to 100 murders.
In Trelawny there was no change as the parish recorded 24 murders, the same amount as in 2023.
However, there were mixed results for other serious crimes. Shootings were down in Westmoreland (28 less) and Trelawny (two less), but they were up in St James (two more) and Hanover (13 more). And while Westmoreland and Trelawny saw decreases in rape, St James and Hanover saw movements in the other direction. There were reductions in robberies in Westmoreland and Trelawny but St James and Hanover saw increases.
Encouraged by the decline in murders, ACP Miller praised the police teams for their hard work.
“This is not by accident, this is as a result of deliberate policing,” he stated.
According to the senior officer, St James was given special attention.
“We’ve actually ramped up our operational activities right across the entire area and especially in St James. Most persons would have known that St James is one of the most problematic areas, maybe in the entire country, where crimes are concerned,” said ACP Miller.
“Our intention is to really bring back St James to that place of normalcy where everybody wants to live, work, and raise their families. It is not by accident [that] we have a reduction in St James; it is as a result of deliberate policing. My police officers are committed to the task and we will continue to see how best we can actually ensure that St James and Area One remain a safe place,” he said.
