KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 7, CMC -Jamaica has recorded the lowest quarterly murder figure recorded in more than three decades, with 407 people killed so far this year, as compared with 534 during the same period last year.
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang told Parliament that this represents a reduction of 24 per cent for this year following a 41 per cent last year.
“Between July and September, the third quarter, Jamaica recorded around 23 murders. This is the lowest quarterly figure recorded in more than three decades, in fact, since records were kept in a monthly basis,” Chang said.
He told legislators that the actual monthly record started to be kept in 1995, andwhile “ it’s a little bit difficult to analyse prior to that.. this is the lowest number recorded in this period.
“This is the lowest quarterly figure recorded in more than three decades,”he said, noting that in September 36 murders were recorded.
“This is the lowest monthly total in more than 30 years. It was the fourth month of this year in which Jamaica recorded 40 murders. Madam Speaker, five of the first nine months of 2026 are among the lowest monthly murder totals recorded in more than three decades.
“Additionally, the first three quarters of 2026 are the lowest quarterly periods, total records over the period,” he said, noting that “what we are achieving represents a downward trend, as it’s recorded, since 2017 as the government executed its policies and programmes to impact the criminal governance in our country.
“In fact, just a few years back, one country where there was a figure, Jamaica recorded a single month. In May 2024, Jamaica recorded 134 murders. In 2017, a month, the average was 137 murders. Today, 123 murders represent an entire quarter.
“Indeed, in the month, in May 2023, the police was discussing what kind of reduction to look at, and they were looking at a target of 70 per month. By 2024, of course, that’s changed. We can graphically illustrate that as it started to move in a new direction.”
Chang said that for decades, high levels of murder and violence became “tragically normalised in our society” and that the country is now seeing a sustained reversal of that trend.
“The government remained committed to its policies, even when they were questioned and criticised. We increased the strength of the Jamaican Constable Force (JCF). We invested in the people, the professionals.
“We provided infrastructure, technology, equipment, and mobility. We provided our police officers with the resources they needed and the operational space to do their jobs effectively.”
He commended the leadership of the JCF, all Jamaican Care Police Officers for the execution of the government policy and programme, and their own professional activities, “which has brought us to this level at this time.
“I want to commend all the brave men and women of the Jamaican frontline. The challenges are still there and the risks are there,” he said, recalling that only two weeks back, three officers were shot and injured in Montego Bay.
“The courage, perseverance, and sacrifice continue to drive these gains. Every day, they place themselves in harm’s way to protect the Jamaican people. Their service must be recognised and appreciated,” Chang said, commending also the dedicated staff of the Ministry of National Security and Peace.
“They ensure that our policies are translated into programmes, that critical investments are advanced smoothly through the public investment management system, and that major initiatives, including the Specialised Operation West, move from policy to implementation.
“We will sign a contract with that project before the end of this fiscal year. It’s a multi-billion dollar project to host the Special Operations Team in the West. The West not only has had some, has been a source of major criminal violence, but in fact, the population and the economic activity of the country are most significant to the West.”
Chang also described the west of the island as the centre of tourism and outsourcing services, and where development continues at a rapid pace, requiring increased policing, “and we want to ensure that our police officers are properly accommodated out there, as it is difficult to provide them in non-police premises.
“Our officers are assured of the support that they require to effect their job from a staff of the Ministry of National Security that has committed as much as the officers on the road to the challenge of dealing with criminal activity in Jamaica.”
Chang said that while Jamaica has been recording success in crime reduction programme “we will not become complacent.
“Our responsibility now is to protect and deepen the peace. Government has invested significantly in the training and professional development of our security personnel through the Caribbean Military Academy, the National Police College of Jamaica, and now the Caribbean Correctional Academy. “
Change said that these institutions have strengthened professionalism, leadership, and excellence across the security service, “but are designed to build a new culture as we train our own security personnel to the highest level, inculcating a new culture and approach that will ensure the gains we are making now will be sustainable in the future”.
Chang said that despite the economic shocks caused by Hurricane Melissa last October, the Jamaica government will continue to build the physical infrastructure for the JCF and indeed the entire security team.
“We opened the Caribbean Correctional Academy with us a couple of weeks back, and we intend to complete the West Malan Divisional Reporters by December this year, and certainly a great symbol of the commitment to having a modern, well-equipped police force,” Chang added.
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