Crime rates plummet in Area One Police Network – senior cop

Significant reductions in crime have been reported across all the divisions in the Area One Police Network since the start of the year.

The Area One Police Network encompasses the police divisions of St James, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland.

Head of the network, Assistant Commissioner Glenford Miller, made the overall statement at the graduation of 210 police personnel from the network on Thursday from a leadership training initiative that was spearheaded by Sandals Corporate University (SCU).

The event was held in Montego Bay, St James.

As of March 8, a total of 26 murders have been recorded in Area One, compared to 54 in 2024, reflecting a 52 per cent reduction.

Miller said St James saw a record reduction in murders last year. The downward trend has continued into the new year, with every division in the network continuing along that trajectory.

"If you look at last year, when you look at statistics, St James, (which) we would consider the number one crime-prone division in Jamaica, we would have seen a record reduction in murders last year," Miller said.

"Since the start of the year, every division in Area One (Police Network) is seeing a reduction. Area One (Police Network) is seeing the highest reduction in any (police network) area in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)," he pointed out.

The JCF's serious crimes report up to March 8 shows that major crimes are down by 44.3 per cent in Westmoreland; 33.3 per cent in Hanover; 43.4 per cent in St James, and down 76.2 per cent in Trelawny.

Numerically, Westmoreland saw 34 major crimes this year, compared to 61 for the same period in 2024, while Hanover recorded 16 crimes, a reduction of eight when compared to last year.

St James saw 43 incidents being reported as of March 8, down from the 76 cases over the corresponding period last year, while Trelawny recorded only five serious crimes this year, which represented a decrease of 16 from last year.

In the major crime category of murders, Trelawny reported the highest decrease of 66.7 per cent, with two homicides recorded up to March 8. A total of six killings were reported there for the same period last year.

St James followed  with a 62.1 per cent reduction, dropping from 29 murders last year to 11 so far in 2025. Hanover also recorded a substantial decrease, with a 57.1 per cent decline in murders, from seven in 2024 to three this year.

Notably, Westmoreland saw a modest decrease, with two fewer murders reported, totalling 10 so far in 2025, compared to 12 for the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Miller underscored the network's commitment to continued improvement in the crime rate across the network.

"... We want to make Area One the best area (police network) in Jamaica, where everyone wants to come live, work, do business and raise their families," declared the senior law enforcer.

He acknowledged that this goal cannot be achieved by the police alone, stressing the need for cooperation and participation from all stakeholders.

"I must say we cannot do it alone; we need the cooperation and participation of all our stakeholders. Without you, we would not be successful," Miller stated.