FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Though there was a reduction in serious crimes reported in 2024, the Trelawny police are still concerned about the prevalence of interpersonal conflicts which drive murders. Cops are hoping closer collaboration with key stakeholders in the parish will lead to a reduction in these types of clashes.

“We continue to see interpersonal conflict. It has contributed to most of the murders and a lot of the incidents of aggravated assault,” commander of the Trelawny Police Division Superintendent Winston Milton the Jamaica Observer.

The division recorded 24 murders in 2024, one less than the 25 reported over the same period in 2023. In providing a comprehensive look at the numbers Milton noted that, with the exception of aggravated assault, 2024 ended with a reduction in all major crimes.

“We saw a reduction in all categories of serious and violent crime except shooting, which was parallel to [2023], and aggravated assault, which exceeded by three,” the senior cop said.

He explained that the police team have had help in achieving this level of success.

“We have been working with several stakeholders, including justices of the peace [JPs], some members of the ministers’ fraternal and other prominent members within the communities that we would advise our citizens to consult with when in conflict,” Milton said.

“We also encourage citizens who are aware of conflict between their neighbours to bring it to our attention early so that we can intervene early and try to bring it to an amicable resolution before it evolves to a stage where violence is involved,” he added.

This effort to stem violence through early intervention has been embraced by Custos of Trelawny Hugh Gentles who lauded the police for their outstanding effort to keep the parish safe.

“We truly appreciate the invaluable service that the police have been providing to the parish and the nation. We anticipate that their good work will continue this year,” he told the Observer.

Gentles also appealed to JPs to intensify their efforts to partner with the police to defuse interpersonal conflicts.

“Do all that is possible in your power to nip conflicts in the bud before they escalate,” he urged.

MILTON… interpersonal conflict has contributed to most of the murders and a lot of the incidents of aggravated assault (Photos: Horace Hines)