60 murders in February interrupt record-low start to 2026

February recorded 60 murders, making it the deadliest month in more than a year, according to the latest crime statistics published Monday by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Overall, the figures show a 24 per cent decline in killings for the first two months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.

From January 1 to February 28, some 93 murders were recorded, 30 fewer than in the first two months of last year, according to the police.

January’s total of 33 marked the lowest number of murders in any single month since the country began systematically collecting crime statistics in 2001. It also represented a 55 per cent reduction compared with January 2025.

February’s violence was spread across the month, with each of the four weeks recording double-digit murders.

Eighteen people were killed between February 1 and 7, followed by 19 murders from February 8 to 14.

The period February 15 to 21 saw 10 killings, and another 13 people were murdered between February 22 and 28.

Last week’s 13 murders pushed the monthly total to 60, exceeding the police high command’s stated target of fewer than 50 murders per month.

A divisional breakdown shows that only two of the JCF’s 19 policing divisions — Kingston Central and St Andrew North — have recorded no murders since the start of the year, the data shows.

Three divisions have posted double-digit figures, with St Andrew South and St James each recording 11 killings, while Clarendon has recorded 10.

The remaining divisions have reported single-digit totals up to the end of February.

Despite February’s spike, the JCF is reporting declines across most major categories of serious crime, including murder, shootings, persons injured, robbery and break-ins.

Overall serious crime is down 20 per cent year-to-date.

Rape is the only major category trending upward, with a nine per cent increase compared with the same period last year. There were 51 reported cases up to February 28.

In his latest “Commissioner’s Corner” address in the Force Orders, Police Commissioner Kevin Blake acknowledged that early February numbers were challenging.

“The first two weeks of February saw a troubling higher number of murders than what has been the trend over the last 14 months,” noted Blake in the document issued to JCF members last week. “However, with careful analysis, focused targeting of the perpetrators and your demonstrated determination and capability, we managed to rein in the numbers and are now still within our monthly average target of sub 50.”

The JCF said it has maintained “a sustained focus on targeted enforcement and data-driven operations" as part of a broader strategy to reduce major crimes and maintain public safety.

- Andre Williams

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