Record 67% Decline in Murders in St. James; Only one Murder in May
The parish of St. James has marked a significant public safety milestone with one murder in the parish in the month of May and an overall 67% decline in murders since the start of the year.
The St. James police is reporting the major reduction reflecting the continued success of Jamaica’s national security and community-based crime reduction strategies.
As of June 1, 2025, 22 murders have been recorded in St. James since the start of the year, compared to 68 over the same period in 2024.
This marks a 67 percent reduction, representing one of the most significant year-on-year declines in violent crime for the parish in recent history, for a parish that once led the murder statistics.
This progress was discussed during a briefing between Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness and Commanding Officer of the St. James police Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels.
“I want to congratulate yourself and your team. You have done an amazing job to just have one murder for the month of May and to bring down murders overall. I think when you put the reduction in murders along with the travel advisory upgrade for us to a level two, it augurs well for the tourism belt and generally for the brand,” said Prime Minister Holness.
The Prime Minister was updated on the division’s strategies and interventions which have contributed to this outstanding result.
It was further noted that the last gun-related murder in the parish occurred on April 27, 2025.
One murder was recorded in the entire month of May, which was a domestic incident involving a knife.
St. James was once the most violent parish in the country.
The dramatic decline in murders in the parish of St. James is the result of sustained police operations, strategic deployments, and proactive community engagement led by local law enforcement.
These improvements have positively impacted citizen confidence, public safety, and the overall perception of security, particularly in the tourism belt.
The reduction in serious crime aligned with recent upgrades in international travel advisories, reinforces Jamaica’s position as a secure and welcoming destination.