Clarendon police increase patrols as murders edge upward in 2026

Police in Clarendon say they are stepping up crime-fighting measures and public-safety work across the parish, even as murders show a small rise since the year began.

Inspector Graham Evangelist, addressing Thursday's monthly meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, said 18 people had been killed in the parish up to June 2026. That was one more homicide than the 17 recorded over the same span in 2025, representing a 5.9 per cent increase.

Evangelist said the Clarendon division, under Senior Superintendent Shane McCalla, has widened its operations throughout the central Jamaica parish as part of efforts to confront criminals and calm residents.

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

Shootings, he reported, are slightly down, with one fewer case than at the corresponding point last year. The police, he said, are still placing personnel and other resources in known trouble spots, where officers are stationed around the clock.

Evangelist also spoke about hurricane-season planning, saying arrangements have been made for stations considered vulnerable. He named Exeter and Lionel Town in southern Clarendon, along with Mocho in the north, as facilities with contingency measures so policing can continue in bad weather.

On public order, the inspector urged parents and guardians to take closer interest in what their children are doing. He said business operators have complained about young people gathering in town centres late in the day.

"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 will continue partnering with citizens to make Clarendon "the safe parish for everyone to come and live, do business and to retire," while pushing for further declines in major crimes before the end of the year.