PRIME Minister Dr Andrew Holness has urged members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to deepen their connection with the public, warning that criminal elements thrive in communities where trust in law enforcement is weak.

Speaking during an interview on Friday at the JCF’s Transformation Expo 2.0 held at the National Arena, Holness acknowledged the significant strides made by the JCF in leadership, training and technology, but said the next critical step is to rebuild and strengthen the bond between citizens and the police.

“There is always an attempt to create dissonance between the people and their security forces — and criminals like that space. Whenever there is a difference between the people and the security forces, criminals will exist. Our job now is to close out that space,” said Holness.

He pointed out that while major investments have bolstered the capacity of the men and women in the JCF, public confidence remains essential to lasting security gains.

“So, there is as much work to be done on the part of the security forces to ensure that every action they take, the people of Jamaica will appreciate it, will understand what they’re doing, and will feel safe. So, the next step in terms of what we have managed to gain at the leadership level is to ensure that the officer on the beat understands that, and [understands the impact of] how he interacts with the public, how he treats the public with respect, [and] to remove out of the mindset that attitude of ‘Hey boy, come here,’ ” added Holness.

The prime minister underscored that the cultural transformation now taking place in the JCF is not just about improving professionalism, but it is about fostering the conditions needed for a peaceful society.

“Once we get rid of that [hey boy approach] out of the force, then you’re going to see a greater unity of purpose between the citizen and the police — and once that is in place, then you’re on your way to building a very peaceful society,” Holness added.

He commended the current and former commissioners of the JCF for their leadership in guiding the force through its transformation, and described the current morale within the force as “the highest it has ever been”, crediting that to a clear direction, doctrine and mission.

According to Holness, the JCF’s improved morale and operational effectiveness are the result of strategic investments over the past nine years, backed by a comprehensive national security plan and a significantly increased budget allocation.

“So all of what you’re seeing now is an impact coming from several years ago [where] several policy and strategic decisions were taken through the National Security Council, within the framework of Plan Secure Jamaica, and supported by a budget,” said Holness.

He noted that between 2016 and 2025 nearly $90 billion has been spent on national security — a stark increase compared to the $28 billion spent over the nine years prior. This, said Holness, has enabled advancements in technology, fleet renewal, telecommunications, forensics, and tactical operations.

The prime minister also highlighted the reduction in the country’s murder rate as evidence that the strategy is working, pointing out that 2025 marks the third-consecutive year of decline in major crimes.

“In 2023 we had a 7.5 per cent reduction in murders; in 2024 we had a 19 per cent reduction in murders; [and] so far, in 2025, we are at 44 per cent…and we expect that it will continue to go down. But, to be clear, there is still a lot more to be done, and we intend to continue the investment in the security forces,” said Holness as he reiterated the importance of early intervention in reducing violence.

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake with sisters from Nigeria at the JCF Expo on Sunday (Garfield Robinson)

He called for a national effort across ministries and civil society to break the cycle of conflict from an early age.

“There are some other strategies that we have to put in place to deal with this whole issue of social violence — and that’s not the JCF alone, that’s the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports; the Ministry of Health. All of these people have to now come in to make sure that those little children never grow up to see violence as a means of resolving conflict.

“In other words, when conflicts arise, violence does not come to them as the first thing that they must use — and that is going to take generations to change but it has to start now,” declared Holness.