NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Horace Chang dismissed a protest by lobby group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) on Tuesday, declaring that “we are winning”, as he presented the successes of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in beating back major crimes, in particular murders.

Chang, wearing a navy blue suit and light blue tie, declared his unwavering support for the JCF without naming JFJ, which had encouraged Jamaicans to wear black as a show of protest against what it deems questionable police fatal shootings, with nearly 110 such incidents recorded since the start of the year.

Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister, was speaking in the House of Representatives where he opened the 2025/26 Sectoral Debate.

His list of successes was long, including historic low numbers for murders. He highlighted that in the first quarter of 2025, the country recorded 187 murders — marking the third-straight quarter of decline since the second quarter of 2024.

“Even more compelling — major crimes (murder, shooting, rape, robbery, and break-ins) have now fallen for six consecutive quarters, starting from quarter three of 2023,” said Chang.

“When we examine the monthly murder count since July 2024, the trend line confirms a general steady decline in murders. So far this year — January 1 to April 27 — there have been 227 murders. This represents 132 fewer lives lost, or a 37 per cent reduction compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Major crimes are down by 19 per cent over the same period,” Chang added.

The security minister pointed out that a deeper analysis of the murders year-to-date shows that “not only are we well below last year’s pace, but we are also tracking below the 2025 target that was set. If the current downward trend in murders continues we are on track to record fewer than 800 murders in 2025”.

“This would represent not only a historic low, but a major victory for every law-abiding Jamaican,” he said.

He went further.

“If we continue along those lines, we will have under 600 murders this year,” Chang stated.

He emphasised, “We didn’t set that target, [but] I’ve always said to the commissioner, when you take out a certain number of the hardcore criminals you inspire fear in others, you change the operation and you get the reduction.”

Chang said the gangsters were fighting back but the police are prepared to deal with any threat.

The security minister also highlighted the following accomplishments by the police:

• Lowest weekly murder count in 24 years, with six murders during Christmas week 2024.

• Lowest monthly murder count in 25 years — 48 in February 2025.

• Lowest quarterly murder total in 25 years — 187 in the first quarter of 2025.

• Most consecutive weeks with murders below 15, in 25 years — a run of seven weeks since March 2025.

• Most weeks in a quarter with murders below 20, in 25 years — 11 weeks in the first quarter of 2025.

• Lowest quarterly major crimes in 25 years — 898 cases in quarter one of 2025.

• Most firearms seized in a single quarter — 276 in quarter one of 2025.

“At the close of 2024, murders fell by 18.4 per cent, building on a 7.3 per cent decline in 2023,” Chang noted.

He also highlighted the following successes by the JCF:

• 63 gangs have been impacted through investigations and operational efforts;

• 159 known gang members have been arrested;

• 34 members aligned to gangs were charged for applicable offences, which include murder, firearm breaches, and lottery scamming;

• 15 gang members have been charged under the “anti-gang” legislation. Ten gang-related cases, involving over 90 accused, are currently before the courts. Meanwhile, 46 active gang investigations are being pursued by the police and 89 case files have been newly opened.

Chang said that during the first quarter of this year, a total of 85 gangs were identified as active across all 19 police divisions.

“This represents a significant reduction when compared to the 120 active gangs that were recorded during the same period in 2024 — reflecting a decrease of 29 per cent, or 35 gangs”.

Said Chang: “This downward trend is a clear indication that our strategy is gaining traction and delivering tangible results in dismantling criminal networks and disrupting their operations. This is the power of focused, intelligence-driven policing. We are taking the fight to the gangs, and we are winning.”

Continuing, the security minister said, “This strategy of focused deterrence that is based on scientific analytics is indeed working. We are not just seeing better numbers; we are on a clear path to sustainable crime reduction”.

He stated that “for the first time since structured data capture and disaggregation began in the JCF, we are recording several historic achievements”.

“We are not just reducing crime; we are changing the trajectory. Jamaica is firmly on the path to long-term, sustainable crime reduction,” said Chang.

He had a word of advice for Jamaicans.

“I say to the public: Do not to watch the headlines; pay attention to the trend lines. In today’s world, access to information through social media is faster than ever. However, headlines are often sensational, focusing on the negative, while giving little attention to the positive. In some cases, they may even spread misinformation. That is why it is important to look beyond the noise and focus on the actual data and long-term trends.”