Post Cabinet Press Briefing Report- Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Post Cabinet Press Briefing Report- Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Posted on by OPM Communications

Hon. Dr. Horace Chang

 

Members of the Press – both here and online,

Good morning!

This morning, we will interrogate some of the issues raised during my Sectoral Presentation on Tuesday, April 29th.

From the very beginning, this Administration laid out a very clear and strategic plan – “Plan Secure Jamaica”.

This is a holistic approach which included developing, transforming, and strengthening the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The goal is to equip our police with the tools, training and resources needed to deal effectively with the criminal actors and gangs.

In those early stages, we made it clear – we would implement strong legislative measures to save lives and stabilize the situation, while steadily building out the capacity of our security forces. It was, and still is, a common-sense approach.

Yet, we faced heavy criticism. The Opposition, some community leaders, and even a few members of the media were quick to oppose us – often in harsh and unforgiving terms.

But today, the results are evident. We are seeing the impact of planning, the fruits of our investments, and the power of confidence in our approach.

 

CRIME STATS:

Ladies and gentlemen,

So far this year – January 1 to May 5, 2025 – there have been 237 murders. This represents 148 fewer lives lost, or a 38.4% reduction compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Major Crimes are down by 19.5% over the same period.

 

As I articulated in the House last week, we are not just seeing a decline in crime year over year, but we are recording some historic low crime statistics. These include:

  • Lowest weekly murder count in 24 years – that is 6 murders recorded during the Christmas Week in 2024.
  • Lowest monthly murder count in 25 years – 44 murders in April this year, surpassing the previous low of 48 recorded two months ago in February of this year.
  • Lowest quarterly murder total in 25 years – 187 murders in Q1 of 2025.
  • Most consecutive weeks with murders below 15, in 25 years – A run of 8 weeks, which started in March this year.
  • Most weeks in a quarter with murders below 20, in 25 years – A total of 11 weeks in Q1 of 2025.
  • Lowest quarterly Major Crimes in 25 years – 898 cases in Q1 of 2025.

 

Additionally, the first quarter of this year recorded the most firearms recovered in a single quarter with 276 firearms.

 

OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH

Critical to our approach has been the improvements in:

 

  1. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
  • Since 2018, we have trained and graduated approximately 6,000 police officers through expanded training facilities – we acquired Tranquility Bay, leased Camp Verley, rehabilitated Harman Barracks and improved Twickenhan Park.
  • For the first time in recent history, the Force is operating at almost its full established strength.
  • We introduced comprehensive leadership and supervisory development programmes.
  • Expanded and modernized the police training curricula – equipping officers with advanced investigative techniques, intelligence analysis capabilities, specialized operational skills and importantly how to interact with the law-abiding citizens.
  • The morale of the Force is high, and the police officers are being treated much better – as true professionals.
  • Special emphasis is being placed on the delivery of quality service to the public.

 

     2. TECHNOLOGY

  1. JamaicaEye:
  • Cabinet has approved the Ministry’s Strategic Master Plan to expand the JamaicaEye network.
  • This will see 2,500 additional CCTV cameras will be installed over the next 3 years.
  • JMD$1 billion in the Recurrent Budget in each of the next three fiscal years.
  • Currently, over 1,200 cameras are on the network.
  • Explain Olympic Way Monitoring

 

b. Electronic Station Records and Case Management Systems:

  • 51 police stations are already outfitted with digitized front office operations, replacing the “big books”.

 

c. Fleet Management System:

  • 1,400 vehicles are currently being tracked through the system.

 

d. Electronic handheld devices and wireless printers:

  • 6,350 Rugged Printers
  • 5,850 Rugged Handheld Devices

(These include the 1,000 devices and 1,500 printers to be handed over to the JCF next week)

 

     3.MOBILITY:

  • We have established, for the first time, a modern fleet of police vehicles, equipped with up-to-date technology.
  • Since 2016, we have procured 1,806 motor vehicles for the JCF, at a cost of approximately J$6.6 billion.

 

  1. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPOMENT
  • The Westmoreland Divisional Headquarters – currently under construction at a cost of about J$2.7 billion;
  • The St. Catherine North Divisional Headquarters – under construction at a cost of about J$2.2 billion;
  • Specialised Operations West, Montego Bay – to be constructed at a cost of approximately J$11 billion
    • This kind of investment in a single facility is unprecedented in security.
    • We are on track to launch procurement for construction later this Fiscal Year (2025/26);
    • Designs for the facility have been completed and submitted to the St. James Municipal Corporation for approval; NWA has already given its non-objection.
    • The facility is designed to house over 300 police officers.
  • Project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct (ROC) has led to the successful completion of 20 new and fully rehabilitated police stations.
  • Another three (3) police stations – Stony Hill, Little London, and Anchovy are currently under constructed and are set to be completed in the coming months.
  • Six (6) police stations are slated for reconstruction at a combined cost of J$1.6 billion and are progressing through the pre-investment phase of the process.
  • Since the FY 2018/19, over 140 major renovation projects have been completed under Project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct (R.O.C).
  • Last FY (2024/25), under Project ROC, 20 renovation and repair projects were completed at a cost of J$483 million.
  • To date, approximately J$6.4 billion has been spent in total on construction and renovation projects by the Government.

 

INDECOM

  • It is important to note that, in all cases involving police shootings, INDECOM has full authority over crime scene management and possesses the capability to conduct comprehensive forensic investigations. This ensures they are fully equipped to carry out their mandate effectively.

 

BODY-WORN CAMERAS

  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Programme to assist emergency responders making procurement decisions.
  • In March 2013, an assessment of body worn camera systems was conducted during special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team training operations in Utah, USA. The purpose of the assessment was to provide general information to law enforcement agencies that are considering employing and/or purchasing this technology.
  • The assessment results found that:
    • Tactical operations provide a unique environment for body worn camera systems.
  • Usage in this unique environment and are not intended to be extrapolated into all law enforcement usage.
  • Body worn camera systems used during normal daytime operations (an officer on patrol or interacting with the public) would have different requirements for use.
  • For tactical operations, ruggedization, mounting options, low-light operation, and ease of use with tactical equipment are the most important factors to consider when purchasing a camera system.

 

LOCAL COLLABORATION

  • Locally, there has been increased collaboration among the entities within the security apparatus, such as the JCF, JDF, MOCA, PICA and Jamaica Customs

 

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

  • There is a high level of cooperation among the international entities and their local counterparts in the fight against criminal activities, such as: advance fee fraud and drugs running.

 

CONCLUSION

  • All the efforts outlined under our strategic approach have combined to give us the results that we are now seeing.

 

  • The Government remains unwavering in its commitment to public order and public safety. We understand that security is fundamental pillar of national development, and we will continue to take bold, decisive steps to preserve peace, uphold the rule of law, and protect the rights and lives of every Jamaican.