KINGSTON, Jamaica—State minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley is welcoming the 24 per cent reduction in murders during the first half of the year when compared with a similar period last year.

The latest Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) statistics indicate that as of Sunday, July 5, 2026, murders are down by 24 per cent. Shootings are down by 27 per cent.

Senator Fitz-Henley is calling on all law-abiding Jamaicans to support the security forces as they seek to finish the second half of 2026 strong and make Jamaica a safer and more secure place.

“Now would also be a good time for criminal elements to recognise that being engaged in crime will not pay as the administration and the security forces in partnership will not back down from continuing to pursue measures which have resulted in a major decline in murders for the past few years.

The fact is this is the fourth consecutive year in which we are seeing a sizable reduction in murders during the first half of the year and the Government has every intention to ensure that this trend continues,” Fitz-Henley commented while addressing a function at the AC hotel in St Andrew on Monday.

Fitz-Henley noted that in former years, at the end of June, Jamaica would have recorded over 500 murders but over the past few years that has not been the case.

He says the decline in murders is a testament to the hard work of the security forces and the vision of Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang.

“Both the prime minister and Minister Chang were intentional about doing the research and crafting the right set of policies which set the foundation for the past few years which have seen a major decline in murders.

The positive outcomes we are experiencing now reiterate that good policies matter. A cursory look at Plan Secure Jamaica which was tabled by Dr Holness in Parliament a few years ago, confirms that part of that policy was to invest heavily in public safety and national security, including bolstering border protection and the intelligence capabilities of the security forces”, Fitz-Henley concluded.

The 24 per cent decline in murders this year means that as of this Sunday, 87 fewer people have been killed in Jamaica compared to similar periods last year.

So far 275 people have been murdered in Jamaica this year, compared to 362 at a similar point last year.

There have been 102 fewer cases of shootings reported this year compared to last year.

This is the fourth consecutive year where murders have consistently trended down during the first half of the year.

The year 2023 saw a decline of 7.8 per cent in murders.

Murders dipped in Jamaica by 19 per cent in 2024 and in 2025 there was a 43 per cent reduction in murders.