Police chief sends warning to criminals after 19% decline in murders
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Jamaica ended 2024 registering 1,139 murders and a warning from Police Commissioner Kevin Blake to criminals that they will not win in the pursuit of criminal activities.
Figures released by the Ministry of National Security show that Jamaica had recorded a reduction of 265 when compared with the previous year when the country recorded 1, 397.
“To the violent criminals who threaten the pace of our communities, hear me clearly. The JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) of 2025 is charged and ready. You will face a force that is highly motivated and driven by a relentless resolve to win,” Blake said, noting that the police had been more motivated this year to go after criminals.
“If you choose to continue your path of destruction, you will find us standing firm against you with the full weight of the law behind us. Consider this your warning. We will not ease up until peace prevails.
“To the Jamaican people, I reaffirm our pledge that JCF will stand resolute in its mission to protect you and dismantle criminal organisations. So let us work together to make this vision a reality,” said Blake, who was appointed Police Commissioner in March last year.
According to the JCF, most of the murders this year were recorded in Westmoreland 100, down from 116 last year, St James 125, a 33.5 per cent decrease on the188 recorded last year, 118 in St Andrew South, down from 121 last year and 94 recorded in St Catherine North, a decline of 223 per cent from the 121 figure recorded for the same period in 2023.
But the JCF said that there was a 41.1 per cent increase in murders in St Andrew Central where 79 murders were recorded this year, up from 72 last year. Manchester and St Andrew North each recorded six more murders each for the totals of 50 and 66 respectively this year.
The JCF also reported that shootings also declined this year from 1,104 to 997, a 9.7 per cent decline, there were 355 rapes as against 484 last year, a 26.7 per cent decline and robberies declined by 20.8 per cent when 629 robberies were recorded as against 794 the previous year.
