Six murders in a week as Jamaica logs back-to-back single-digit homicide totals

For the second week running, Jamaica's weekly murder count stayed in single digits, with six killings recorded between June 21 and June 27, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said in its latest serious crime update.

That total came after eight homicides were logged the week before, from June 14 to June 20, marking one of the longest runs of low weekly murder numbers seen so far in 2026.

Up to June 27, the country had recorded 265 murders — 23 per cent fewer than the 342 reported over the same stretch of 2025.

The JCF said the improvement is not limited to homicides. Shootings, injuries from violence, rape, robberies and break-ins have also fallen, helping to push major crimes down by 20 per cent compared with the matching period last year.

Even with the broader drop, St James remains the police division with the most murders nationwide. Since January, the parish has seen 35 killings — up 25 per cent from the same point in 2025.

St Andrew South follows with 22 murders, down 51 per cent. St Andrew Central has reported 21, a 17 per cent rise. Clarendon recorded 20 homicides, five per cent lower than before, and Kingston Eastern completes the top five divisions with 19 murders — a 73 per cent jump over the corresponding period in 2025.

The force said the numbers reflect a continuing downward shift in violent crime this year, supported by focused operations aimed at criminal groups in multiple divisions.