St. Catherine North records first murder-free month in over two years

Jamaica's St. Catherine North Police Division has gone a full calendar month without a murder for the first time in 29 months. National murder figures are also down 22.6% year-on-year.

St. Catherine North goes murder-free for the first time in 29 months

The St. Catherine North Police Division has recorded its first murder-free calendar month in 29 months, according to figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and reported by caribbeantoday.com.

Commanding Officer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hopton Nicholson described the milestone as particularly significant, noting that the division had also achieved a 42 per cent reduction in murders over the period January 1 to August 29 — the lowest murder count recorded since the division was established 30 years ago.

"For the first time in 29 months since I've been the divisional commander, this division recorded a calendar month with zero murders," Nicholson said.

He cautioned against reading the result purely as a crime statistic. "Behind every reduction in murder is a life potentially saved. A family spared unimaginable pain. A child who does not have to grow up without a parent. A community given a greater opportunity to live, to work and to prosper in peace," he said.

National murder rate falls 22.6 per cent

Nationally, Jamaica recorded 357 murders between January 1 and August 29 this year, compared with 461 over the same period last year — a decline of 22.6 per cent. Nearly all divisions registered fewer murders, including Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary, Kingston Western, St. Andrew South, and both St. Catherine North and South.

Full-year figures show 673 murders recorded in 2025 so far, a 43 per cent drop compared with 1,147 in 2024.

The JCF also reported a decline in shootings, from 467 cases last year to 355 over the same period this year. Rape cases fell from 266 to 237, and robbery cases dropped from 489 to 362.

Intensified presence and anti-gang operations

Nicholson attributed the results to the combined efforts of police personnel, intelligence officers, investigators, operational teams and local communities. The division has stepped up public order enforcement in town centres and along major thoroughfares, while deliberately increasing police visibility in areas prone to crime and violence.

"Our approach is to prevent violence before it occurs," he said, adding that the increased presence is intended to reassure citizens that the police are "present, visible and ready to respond."

Anti-gang operations are set to continue, with officers targeting individuals and groups involved in gang-related activity. The stated objectives are to disrupt operations, dismantle networks, degrade capabilities and bring those responsible before the courts.

Community partnerships seen as essential

Nicholson stressed that effective policing depends on cooperation beyond the force itself. "We build partnerships with our citizens, our community leaders, our business operators and other stakeholders," he said.

He urged residents of St. Catherine North to sustain their engagement with police, calling information-sharing and a collective willingness to stand against criminality critical to preserving the gains made.

"We need your continuous partnership. The police cannot be everywhere at all times. Your information, your cooperation and willingness to stand against criminality are critical to our success," Nicholson said.

Source: Google News JM — Crime