LUCEA, Hanover — The Hanover Police Division is celebrating a landmark achievement in public safety, recording a staggering 40 per cent reduction in major crimes overall last year.

The news was delivered by the officer in charge of the Hanover Police Division Superintendent Andrew Nish, during the regular monthly general meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation on Thursday.

Superintendent Nish characterised the period as a successful turnaround following a “challenging” 2024.

The most significant gains were seen in the parish’s homicide rate. According to statistics provided by Nish, Hanover recorded 72 murders in 2023. That number fell to 48 in 2024, before plummeting to just 22 in 2025 — a 54 per cent reduction over the previous year.

Similarly, shooting incidents saw a sharp decline. From 53 recorded in 2024, the parish ended 2025 with 25 incidents, marking a 53 per cent decrease.

Superintendent Nish also highlighted the division’s efficiency in bringing offenders to justice, reporting clear-up rates that far exceeded the division’s original target of between 80 and 85 per cent.

While the comparative data was not presented, the category of murder recorded a clear-up rate of 109 per cent, rape had a clear-up rate of 131 per cent, and shootings 76 per cent. This is an overall clear-up rate of 73 per cent.

A pivotal part of the division’s success was its laser focus on the Green Island area, which has historically been a hotspot for violence.

“One of the strategies employed, when you look at the statistics, is that if we manage Green Island properly, then evidently, we will have a reduction. The priority was Green Island, and Green Island ended the year with 12 of the 22 murders. So, we basically cut the incidents in Green Island in half. And we intend to continue on the same trajectory in 2026,” stated Superintendent Nish.

In 2023, Green Island accounted for 32 of the 72 murders committed in the parish. Similarly, from the 48 murders committed in the division in 2024, 24 were in Green Island.

While Green Island previously dealt with two gangs that fractured into seven, Superintendent Nish revealed that the primary driver of crime in the past year shifted from gang activity to interpersonal conflict.

“Incidents of domestic disputes, threats, are on the rise. We do acknowledge this and are giving that our attention,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the breakdown of station areas showed pockets of absolute peace within the parish.

The Kingsvale area recorded no murders and no shootings in 2025, while Ramble saw no murders and only one shooting. The newly established Hopewell area recorded one murder and one shooting.

Superintendent Nish credited the success to the “commitment and resilience” of his team and strong stakeholder support. He expressed his pride in the “strong working team” currently managing the parish.

“We are looking to continue this work going into 2026. At this time, I am proud to be the officer who is in charge of the parish,” said the senior officer.