Investment in Crime-Fighting Yielding Results – Senator Johnson Smith

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says the Government has significantly invested in strengthening Jamaica’s security architecture to safeguard life, property and socio-economic stability.

“Our strategic investments and efforts have been yielding encouraging results.

In 2023, Jamaica saw a reduction in all major crimes with murders down by 7.8 per cent at the end of the year.

“In addition, shootings were down by approximately six per cent, and rape, robbery and break-ins were down between 12 per cent and 17 per cent”, she noted.

Senator Johnson Smith, who was speaking in the Senate on Friday (October 11), noted that as of October 5, murders are down 18 per cent over the previous year.

“Shootings are down a further six per cent; rape, a further 30.7 per cent; robberies, a further 19.3 per cent; and break-ins were down a further 3.9 per cent,” she informed.

Senator Johnson Smith said that the numbers recorded in 2023 were “our lowest level of major crime in more than 22 years”.

“So, as you would have recognised, we are well below that now… as we make progress in creating a Jamaica that is safe for all”, adding that “there is a lot for us to do”.

She said that organised crime and violence have been identified as one of the greatest threats and is being given focus by the Government.

“The criminals are becoming more organised and more aggressive and we, therefore, have to respond effectively,” Senator Johnson Smith said.