Hundreds of Lives Saved in 2025 – Police Commissioner

Commissioner of Police, Dr. Kevin Blake, is welcoming the significant decline in murders, noting that 2025 will be remembered as a year in which hundreds of lives were saved and violent crime was significantly reduced.

“Murders are down by 43 per cent nationally. As of December 20, Jamaica has recorded 649 murders, representing 487 fewer murders than the same period in 2024,” the Commissioner said in his end-of-year review on December 25.

“This is not a marginal improvement; it is a substantial reduction, and it reflects the cumulative impact of intelligence-led policing, focused operations against gangs, enhanced firearms interdiction, and the commitment of our officers on the ground,” he said.

Dr. Blake informed that overall, there is a 13 per cent reduction in violent crimes.

Shootings are down by 32 per cent compared to last year and reported rapes have declined by 27 per cent.

“Taken together, these figures point to a sustained reduction in the most serious forms of violence. While we remain acutely aware that even one violent act is one too many, the downward trajectory is undeniably encouraging,” the Commissioner said.

He noted that the decrease in crimes means that hundreds of families have been spared the trauma of violent loss, communities that once lived under constant threat are beginning to experience relief and stability.

“It sends a clear signal that violent criminality is being confronted with precision and persistence,” he pointed out.

He said there will be no relent in achieving further reductions in crime, including robberies and break-ins, which saw “relatively small increases”.

“We are patient, we are informed, and we will not relent. Our presence on the streets has also been a critical factor. The continued expansion of visible patrols, including foot and motorised patrols, has enhanced deterrence, improved response times, and strengthened public confidence, particularly in high-traffic urban spaces and commercial districts,” Dr. Blake said.

The Police Commissioner noted that the gains made in crime fighting are not the result of police action alone but the product of deliberate alignment, a shared resolve, and sustained support by State and across wider society.

He hailed the Government for believing in the policing plan, and for backing that belief with the necessary financial resources.

“Strategy without support is theory. What we have demonstrated this year is what becomes possible when vision is matched by investment. I must also recognise our many stakeholders who have stood firmly with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) throughout this period of transformation,” Dr. Blake said.

He further commended the Police Service Commission whose support has been instrumental in ensuring that “the right people are placed in the right positions at the right levels”, community leaders, who have helped to calm tensions, rebuild trust, and restore cohesion within communities, and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) which has “stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the trenches”.

“Your operational support, professionalism, and readiness have reinforced the State’s capacity to respond decisively to serious threats, and your partnership remains invaluable,” he stated.

Dr. Blake stressed that criminal networks cannot prevail against a State that is aligned, determined, and resolute.

He assured the public that the gains achieved are sustainable, provided this level of cohesion, support, and partnership continues.

“As long as a State remains unified, as long as communities, institutions, and security forces continue to move together, we will continue to protect life, preserve order, and strengthen the safety of our nation,” he said.