Jamaica records lowest January murder toll in 25 years; Fitz-Henley warns of ongoing threats

While Jamaica recorded its lowest January murder toll in 25 years, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley has cautioned that weekend killings in Manchester underscore that violent crime remains a serious threat.

“No doubt the four murders committed in Manchester over the weekend present a strong indicator that there are gunmen prepared to take on Jamaican citizenry and snuff out Jamaican lives,” Fitz-Henley said in a statement. “There is a long way to go in the fight to bring violent crime to a heel, and it is important that as many stakeholders as possible support lawful efforts to eliminate violent crime in Jamaica.”

Fitz-Henley, a state minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, also noted declines in murders, shootings, robberies, rapes, and injuries compared with the same period last year.

Jamaica recorded 33 murders in January, the lowest number of murders in any single month since the country began systematically collecting crime statistics in 2001, the Jamaica Constabulary Force said in a statement on X on Sunday.

The figure also represents a 55 per cent reduction in murders, compared with January 2025, when 74 murders were recorded. "This represents 41 lives saved," the force said.

The data also comes amid a 36 per cent drop in major crimes.

The historic low, however, was overshadowed by a spate of shootings in Manchester, which left four people dead between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

As of the end of the month, three police divisions remained murder-free: St Andrew North, Kingston Central, and Clarendon. For divisions that have recorded homicides, St Andrew South led with five murders, while St James, St Ann, and St Elizabeth recorded four homicides each.

The police have credited the overall reduction to intelligence-led operations, targeted anti-gang initiatives, and enhanced interdiction of illegal firearms. They have also reiterated calls for community partnership to sustain the gains.

-Andre Williams

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