ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Deputy Superintendent Camendo Thoms, operations officer for the St Catherine North Police Division has committed to further reducing murders in the area in 2025, to continue the downward trend reported last year.

Thoms made the pledge to Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday during his visit to the St Catherine North Division.

He disclosed that in 2024 the division recorded 94 murders — 27 less than in 2023. Thoms credited the reduction to the operational activities carried out in the space throughout the year.

“This (St Catherine North Division) has always been a dynamic one, one in which you can always expect flare-ups in terms of criminal activities but since 2024 we have ramped up our operational activities and that allowed us to reduce criminal activities for the most part, where we came up with 94 for 2024 over 121 the prior year of 2023,” Thoms said.

He went on to assure the prime minister that in 2025 there will be a more significant reduction in murders.

“We have actually studied the data and you can rest assured that for 2025 you will be seeing a more significant reduction in terms of murders,” the deputy superintendent said.

So far this year, according to Thoms, two murders have been reported, three more than the same period last year. He further explained that the murders were not gang-related but were linked to domestic disputes.

“We’re actually realising now that these two [murders] are on the outskirts [and] not within the township of Spanish Town. So we now have to begin to step up our operational efforts especially in the rural communities because the men are running away from us,” Thoms said.

Holness applauded Thoms and his team for their efforts in the division, including their use of data in their response to murders and other criminal activities.

“I’m happy to hear that you are studying data… and that you recognise and distinguish that there are two factors driving murders in your space. The larger factor obviously is the gang… and as you reduce the gang factor then you begin to see the domestic issues playing and therefore a different kind of strategy has to be put in place,” Holness said.

“I’m happy to see that your leadership is data-driven as well as being responsive and dynamic. Congratulations on the reduction. Keep up the good work and we look forward to an even more peaceful and safer 2025 courtesy of you and your team,” he added.