WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — With 23 murders recorded in Westmoreland so far this year, Commanding Officer for the division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Othneil Dobson, says the police are working to keep the parish’s annual tally below 26.

“Myself and my team, we set ourselves a record earlier this year, we look at the statistics and for the last 20-plus years, the lowest murder figure was 26. And we have tried; we wanted to break that record. We are actually at 23. We want to go under 26 within two months. We have done well, but we have had a few hiccups. But we are not going to over-kill ourselves,” stated Dobson.

SSP Dobson was addressing a Westmoreland Justices of the Peace Association of Jamaica Limited Awards Gala and Banquet held at the Negril Hills Golf Club in Westmoreland on Saturday evening.

The current total reflects a sharp decline for a parish once considered among the country’s most violent, having recorded as many as 148 murders in a single year in the past. Last year, Westmoreland recorded 39 murders — its lowest annual total in nearly 18 years.

According to SSP Dobson, domestic homicides — largely driven by land disputes — have marginally outnumbered gang-related killings this year.

“In comparison to previous years, we had years when, of 148 murders, over 100 were gang-related. What we are seeing in Westmoreland, the 23 murders, 11 of the murders are gang-related,” Dobson explained.

“The rest are as a result of domestic issues, interpersonal issues. People just find it hard to work with each other. Neighbours find it hard to work with their neighbours. Family members find it hard. Partners find it hard to separate when it’s over. Neighbours, families and friends are not there to speak to them, to encourage them, to motivate them and to do that amount of mediation. Those land disputes — those are the problems that we are having,” added Dobson.

To address these root causes, the senior officer called for increased community mediation and support from justices of the peace (JPs).

“I’m certain where we will be this year; we are not going anywhere near the 39 murders last year with two months to go. But next year will be a harder year. It will be extremely hard. I’m telling you, what you see happening on a daily basis is not the entire story, the sleepless nights,” he said, adding, “I’m asking for your assistance. It’s going to be a tough year.”

Dobson, who has led the division for the past 30 months, expressed gratitude to the JPs for their ongoing service to the police force and the wider justice system.

“All that we do surrounds you. You’re part and parcel of the justice system. You’re the person that keeps the community safe. You’re the persons that are the stalwarts of the community, and the individuals that the community should look up to.”

With approximately 450 police officers and more than 300 JPs currently serving Westmoreland, Dobson urged JPs to expand their role beyond duties like signing warrants.

“We have the list, Custos [of Westmoreland, Rev Canon Hartley Perrin]. Thank you for that list that you gave [us], so we have direct contact with all of you. We need you not just to sign the warrants, not just to assist with other processes, but when those problems come in the communities, to try to do that first step. Carry the parties together and try to address the issue. Because a lot of the time, just a few words, just carry the parties together,” Dobson said.

He also emphasised the need to strengthen community institutions to foster positive engagement and prevent crime.

“We are asking you, the community builders, to help us to build other institutions that will help us: the community groups, those neighbourhood watch. Those police youth clubs, [and] those other civic groups.”

He highlighted recent community initiatives, including the launch of the Whitehouse Police Youth Club with support from Custos Perrin and Councillor Michael Jackson (PNP, Whitehouse division). Plans are also underway to revive the long-dormant Grange Hill Police Youth Club.

“It’s important for us in the division. A Grange Hill that normally records 20-odd murders recording no murders or shootings here today, significant! And the country needs to know. The people in Grange Hill need to know that we are happy, that they are being more civilised, they are working on their problems, [and] people are talking,” stated Dobson.

Dobson further outlined plans to expand educational resource centres across the parish, modelling them after a successful initiative in Negril.

“I must say Negril is doing well. A police youth club with over 50-odd members, a nice container given by corporate sponsors where we can help children to do homework, etc. We want to continue that. We have two containers; we want to put one at Frome and the other one at Little London, and we want to spread that right across the parish,” revealed the senior officer.

Reflecting on the division’s progress, SSP Dobson noted that Westmoreland is now the “envy of a lot of people, coming from the third most murderous parish, and we are now at number 10”.