KINGSTON, Jamaica—A total of 1,528 individuals were arrested for Category 1 crimes in Jamaica in 2025, with 481 being picked up for murder and 395 for shooting.

Some 231 individuals were arrested for robbery and 172 for aggravated assault.

The statistics are outlined in the 2025 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, an annual publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

They show that Jamaica recorded major reductions in reported category 1 crimes in 2025 with murders falling 41.0 per cent to 675 incidents, while shooting incidents decreased by 30.8 per cent to 696.

Rape also declined by 26.3 per cent to 325 cases.

In contrast, aggravated assault increased by 41.3 per cent to 465 cases, while robbery and break-ins rose by 8.5 per cent and 17.0 per cent, respectively.

PIOJ said St Andrew recorded the largest share of category 1 crimes, accounting for 19.3 per cent of reported incidents. St Catherine and Kingston followed with 16.0 per cent and 9.7 per cent, respectively. Together, these three parishes accounted for 45.0 per cent of all category 1 crimes reported nationally.

The largest declines in category 1 crimes – 36.6 per cent were recorded in Hanover and Westmoreland at 36.0 per cent. The largest increases were observed in Portland at 27.5 per cent and Manchester 12.0 per cent.

St Andrew recorded the largest number of arrests at 297, followed by St Catherine at 197, and Kingston 175.

A total of 5,859 victims of category 1 crimes were recorded during the year under review. Shooting incidents accounted for the largest number of victims at 1,286, followed by break-ins at 1,195, larceny at 983, and robbery 899.

St Andrew registered the largest number of victims at 1,263, while St Catherine and Kingston followed with 1,041 and 637 victims, respectively.

Collectively, these parishes accounted for 50.2 per cent of all category 1 crime victims.

-Lynford Simpson