Jamaica murder toll down 23% as island logs back-to-back weeks of single-digit killings

Jamaica recorded just six murders in the week of June 21–27, its second consecutive single-digit week. The national toll stands at 265, down 23% year-on-year.

Six homicides in a week: Jamaica's murder rate hits a rare low

Jamaica posted only six murders between June 21 and June 27, its second consecutive week of single-digit killings, according to jamaica-gleaner.com, citing the latest serious crime statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The previous week, June 14–20, saw eight homicides — together marking one of the longest stretches of low weekly murder figures recorded this year.

As of June 27, the national murder toll stood at 265, a 23 per cent drop from the 342 homicides logged during the same period in 2025. The decline is not limited to murders: JCF data show falls across shootings, persons injured, rape, robberies and break-ins, producing an overall 20 per cent reduction in serious crimes compared with the corresponding period last year.

Not all divisions, however, are moving in the same direction.

St James remains the island's deadliest police division, recording 35 homicides since January — a 25 per cent increase over the equivalent period in 2025. Kingston Eastern has seen the sharpest rise, with 19 murders representing a 73 per cent year-on-year increase. St Andrew Central has reported 21 killings, up 17 per cent.

Some divisions show marked improvement. St Andrew South recorded 22 murders, a 51 per cent decline year-on-year. Clarendon logged 20 homicides, a five per cent reduction.

Investigators are continuing targeted operations against criminal networks across several police divisions, the JCF data indicate.

Source: Google News JM — Crime