At the end of 2025 the St James police division recorded fewer than 100 murders for the first time in over 20 years. But so far in 2026, the division is once again displaying disappointing figures.
According to the latest Serious Crime Statistics, St James police division in Jamaica leads the nation in murders.
Statistics from January 1 to June 20 indicate that St. James experienced 35 murders, which is nine more than during the same period last year. This number is 15 higher than the 22 murders recorded in St. Andrew South, making it second on the list.
During the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) in May, the murder count had reached 26. Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, the police commander for St. James, attributed the rise in murders primarily to interpersonal disputes. He reported that 11 of the murders occurred during interpersonal disputes. Eight were gang-related, and seven were committed by criminals.
St. James is not the only division in the west witnessing an increase in murder counts. Hanover, which recorded seven murders during the same period last year, has seen that number rise to ten this year. In contrast, Trelawny has decreased its murder count from six last year to four this year, while Westmoreland has experienced the most significant decline, dropping from twenty-two murders to thirteen.
Shooting incidents are down in St. James, Westmoreland, and Hanover
In the past six months, we’ve seen encouraging progress in St. James, Westmoreland, and Hanover, as each of these areas has reported a decrease in shootings. Westmoreland saw a reduction to 19 shootings from 27 last year, while Hanover experienced a significant drop from 13 to just three. St. James also made headway, with 24 shootings compared to 27 previously. However, Trelawny experienced a slight uptick, reporting seven shootings this year, up from three.
This positive trend is certainly a relief for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), which has been facing challenges in ensuring adequate blood supplies.
In May 2024, the Cornwall Regional Hospital faced a critical situation, having only nine units of blood available. This shortage stemmed from a surge in demand due to gunshot victims. In just one night, the hospital’s entire blood supply was depleted after four gunshot victims urgently required transfusions.
Let’s remain hopeful that these numbers continue to decline, allowing our communities to thrive safely and healthily!
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