St Mary Police Say Murders Down 61%, Clear-up Rate Among Best in Ja
PORT MARIA, St Mary; July 27, 2026
Murders are down by more than 60 percent so far this year, compared to the same period in 2025.
In addition to stating the decrease in murders, the St Mary police say they rank among the country’s top divisions for clearing major crimes.
Deputy Superintendent and Operations Officer for the St Mary Police Division, Ricardo Beckford, gave the crime assessment during the St. Mary Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation and Safety Committee meeting in Port Maria on Tuesday, July 21, 2026
(St Mary police before an operation, months ago)
“We have been enjoying a 61 per cent reduction in murders,” DSP Beckford said, noting that the parish had gone 108 days without a murder before an incident in Highgate on July 9. Police confirmed that up to last week there were seven murders across the parish, compared to 18 in the similar period last year.
According to DSP Beckford, the division has also maintained a remarkable crime-clearance rate.
“While we cannot prevent all crimes, we have been enjoying or celebrating an over 200 per cent reduction in clear-up rate in relation to these crimes. So we are, I think, third currently in the entire Jamaica in terms of the high level at which we clear these crimes,” he said.
(DSP Ricardo Beckford, addressing a committee at the St Mary Municipal Corporation)
DSP Beckford commended members of the St. Mary Police Division and residents for their continued support, stating that sustained operational efforts have contributed significantly to the positive results. “We continue to increase our operations. Currently, we are in a 90-day operation mode.”He said the intensified operations have already produced encouraging outcomes.
According to JIS, the Operations Officer explained that the division’s strategy includes aggressively pursuing recent and long-standing unresolved criminal cases.
DSP Beckford noted that the police are also collaborating with local and international law-enforcement agencies to apprehend suspects who flee the parish or the country.
He further highlighted the division’s continued investment in community safety and security (CSS) initiatives, which are aimed at strengthening relationships between the police and residents.
He said the engagement was critical to sustaining the parish’s positive crime trends.
“We continue to do our best to ensure that St. Mary is the safest parish in the country,” DSP Beckford added.
