MONTEGO BAY, St James — National Security and Peace Minister Dr Horace Chang says the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has reversed what was once a troubling exodus of cops, with some members who once sought better opportunities overseas now returning home to resume their careers.

“We used to have a very high rate of what you call resignation, moving from the force. We are now having people who left the force coming back,” revealed Dr Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister.

“In fact, up to recently, someone came back from New York, and we were assured they left without any adverse trace. They reattained their rank and will proceed to build their career in the force,” he added.

Dr Chang’s comments were part of Tuesday’s address to the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. He cited these cops’ new-found appreciation for the JCF as one of the clearest signs of renewed confidence in the country’s security apparatus following years of sustained investment and reform.

The security minister told members of the diaspora that the turnaround within the JCF forms part of a broader national security strategy that has produced historic reductions in violent crime and strengthened public confidence in law enforcement.

According to Dr Chang, Jamaica recorded 674 murders in 2025, marking the first time in more than three decades that the annual figure fell below 700. He noted that the country ended the year with a homicide rate of 24 per 100,000 people, down significantly from the peak levels of 62 murders per 100,000 recorded in 2005.

He said the gains continued into 2026, with murders declining by 29 per cent during the first quarter compared to the corresponding period last year. Dr Chang also noted that arrest rates have increased dramatically over the years, moving from approximately 44 for every 100 murders in 2012 to 99 arrests for every 100 murders in 2025, strengthening deterrence and accountability.

“In Jamaica, there is no hiding place. We will find them. We will arrest and prosecute them,” he declared.

He also underscored the success of efforts to remove illegal guns from the streets, revealing that law enforcement agencies seized a record 1,076 firearms last year. The security minister argued that the improvements did not occur by chance but were the result of sustained investments in personnel, infrastructure, technology and intelligence capabilities.

Since 2018, approximately 7,100 police officers have been recruited and trained, while more than 2,250 members of the force, including more than 250 gazetted ranks, have been promoted to fill critical vacancies and strengthen leadership within the organisation, Dr Chang said.

The security minister also highlighted major investments in equipment and mobility, including the acquisition of nearly 2,000 police vehicles since 2016 and the deployment of more than 1,500 body-worn cameras across the country, with additional units being procured.

He said the Government has maintained annual capital spending on national security averaging about $10 billion since 2016 and is currently undertaking more than $30 billion in infrastructure works through Project ROC, which is upgrading police stations and facilities across the country.

Addressing the conference which was being held under the theme “Diaspora Partnerships: Re-Building a More Climate-Resilient Jamaica”, Chang said the country’s recent achievements have created an opportunity for future generations to experience a Jamaica where crime is no longer a feature of daily life. While welcoming the progress, however, he cautioned against complacency, underscoring that maintaining public safety would require continued collaboration among government agencies, communities, schools, churches, businesses and citizens.

“We have come too far to turn back now. The task before us is to protect these gains, build upon them, and ensure that the safer Jamaica we are beginning to experience becomes the Jamaica that future generations inherit,” he said.