Clarendon police step up crime operations after 18 murders in 2026

Police in Clarendon say they are moving harder against crime and working to keep communities calm after the parish recorded 18 murders so far this year.

Inspector Graham Evangelist gave the update at Thursday's monthly sitting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation. He said the murder figure, recorded up to June 2026, is one above the 17 homicides reported for the same period last year, reflecting a 5.9 per cent increase.

Evangelist said the police division, under Senior Superintendent Shane McCalla, has increased its operational footprint across the central Jamaica parish as part of efforts to respond to crime and give residents confidence.

"We are here to assure the citizens in our local parish not to panic," Evangelist said. He said stronger policing measures are now active in communities to cut criminal activity and allow residents to "sleep under the blanket of security."

Shootings, he reported, have moved down marginally, with one less case than the comparable period in 2025. Police, he said, are still directing manpower to known trouble spots, where officers are stationed around the clock.

Evangelist also spoke about readiness for the hurricane season. He said contingency arrangements have been made for stations considered vulnerable, including Exeter and Lionel Town in southern Clarendon and Mocho in the north, so police services can continue if bad weather affects the parish.

On public order, the inspector urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children. He said business operators have complained about young people staying around town centres late into the evening.

"Our community, safety and security [branch], and our beat officer patrols are out, trying to stamp out this type of behaviour, but most times the parents don't believe. We are asking the parents sometimes just to come out into the town under disguise, and they will see their children," he said.

Evangelist said the police intend to keep partnering with residents as they work to make Clarendon "the safe parish for everyone to come and live, do business, and to retire," while aiming for further declines in major crimes before the end of the year.