KINGSTON, Jamaica — Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake has cautioned officers and commanders across the country against complacency, urging continued discipline and leadership to sustain recent gains in crime reduction and prevent further loss of life.

In his latest weekly message to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Dr Blake said the country was currently recording a significant decline in murders, but warned that the progress could quickly be reversed if operational focus weakened.

“As we move through the final month of the first quarter…we continue to see a 31 per cent reduction in murders compared to last year, and a 30 per cent reduction over the first quarter of 2025,” he said.

The commissioner attributed the reduction to what he described as “deliberate policing and coordinated, disciplined execution across all formations”.

However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require strong leadership and consistent supervision at every level of the force.

“While the reductions are encouraging, it is the sustainability that requires steady leadership at all levels, and must remain our blinkered focus,” Dr Blake said.

He warned that criminal networks remain watchful and ready to exploit any lapse in policing discipline.

“Some of the more hardened murderers who we are up against do not retreat permanently,” he wrote. “They watch us closely, test our resolve, wait for complacency, recalibrate and then they strike.”

“It means… we cannot afford complacency.”

Dr Blake urged officers to remain disciplined in the core practices of policing, noting that lives can often be saved through consistent attention to basic operational duties.

“The difference between a prevented murder and a missed opportunity often lies in the basics,” he said.

These include maintaining a strong police presence, responding promptly to calls for service, following up intelligence consistently, and carrying out thorough vehicle checks while maintaining professional interactions with the public.

He also emphasised the importance of visibility in communities affected by violence.

“Visible presence in volatile communities providing reassurance creates opportunities to disrupt serious crimes before they occur,” he said.

Dr Blake also reminded officers that their work must remain lawful and professional in order to maintain public confidence.

“We must ensure that everything we do is thorough, lawful, purposeful and professional,” he wrote, adding that police operations must never create “disaffection among the people”.

The commissioner concluded by reminding members of the force that “small lapses sometimes create big consequences”, as he urged continued vigilance in the national effort to reduce violent crime.