Police Commissioner cautions against complacency and urges continued discipline and leadership to sustain recent gains in crime reduction and prevent murders

Police Commissioner, Dr. Kevin Blake, has cautioned officers and commanders against complacency and has urged continued discipline and leadership to sustain recent gains in crime reduction and prevent murders.

In his latest weekly message to members of the Constabulary Force, Dr. Blake pointed out that Jamaica is recording a significant decline in murders.

At the time of his message, Dr. Blake said there was a 31% reduction in murders compared to last year and a 30% decline over the first quarter of 2025.

He warned that the progress could be reversed quickly if operational focus weakens.

The Commissioner attributed the reduction to what he described as “deliberate policing, and coordinated, disciplined execution across all formations”.

However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require strong leadership and consistent supervision at every level of the force.

Dr. Blake warned that criminal networks remain watchful and ready to exploit any lapse in policing discipline.

He urged officers to remain disciplined in the core practices of policing, noting that lives can often be saved through consistent attention to basic operational duties.

These include maintaining a strong police presence, responding promptly to calls for service, following up intelligence consistently, and carrying out thorough vehicle checks while maintaining professional interactions with the public.

He also emphasised the importance of visibility in communities affected by violence.

Additionally, Dr. Blake reminded officers that their work must remain lawful and professional in order to maintain public confidence, adding that police operations must never create “disaffection among the people”.