Murders down 41% as Clarendon records reduction in major crimes
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The Clarendon police are reporting its most significant reduction in crime in over a decade, with head of the division, Senior Superintendent of Police Shane McCalla, charging that the police will continue to employ targeted strategies to further cut crime in the parish.
McCalla told today’s monthly sitting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation that the parish closed 2025 with 41 murders, representing a 41 per cent decrease—the lowest annual total recorded in approximately 13 years.
Additionally, Clarendon recorded a 30 per cent reduction in shootings.
Overall, there was a 17 per cent reduction in all major crimes when compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
Prior to 2025, the lowest murder tally was recorded in 2012, when 84 homicides were reported.
That figure rose to 112 homicides in 2013 and declined slightly to 97 in 2014.
The upward trend continued, with 122 murders in 2015 and 130 in 2016.
In 2017, the parish experienced a sharp spike, ending the year with 169 murders.
Murder figures remained in the triple digits in subsequent years, with the exception of 2022, which recorded 94 murders, and 2024, which recorded 69 murders.
According to McCalla, the Clarendon police team began 2025 on what he described as a “sub-70” mission, aimed at implementing targeted strategies to keep murders below 70.
He explained that the target was later revised to an even more ambitious goal of fewer than 50 murders.
“In October, we conducted our analysis and reviewed the current situation. We examined all the strategies we had been employing, and the team, after consultation, accepted my bold challenge: ‘Can we aim for sub-50?’ They said, ‘Yes, sir,’ and hence, we ended the year at 41,” he said.
McCalla emphasised that the statistics represented more than numerical achievements, underscoring their human impact.
“In everything that we do, we must view these numbers as lives saved. It’s not just about what the statistics represent. I want you to calculate the difference and recognise that it reflects the number of people who are still alive in 2026. That is our aim. Our main objective in our policing plan is to approach this like a business—profit and loss. Our profit is the lives saved each year and the continued reduction in crime,” McCalla stated.
McCalla also reported that 38 illegal firearms and approximately 379 rounds of ammunition were seized in 2025.
He commended members of the division, attributing the significant reduction in crime to their discipline, commitment, and dedication to law and order.
Meanwhile, McCalla used his presentation to commend Councillor Scean Barnswell, head of the Hayes Division, for his role in the rescue of a six-year-old girl who was abducted from St Thomas More Preparatory School in May Pen last December.
He noted that Barnswell and his wife’s quick thinking, alertness, and keen observation were instrumental in preventing the child from potentially becoming part of the 2025 murder statistics.
Clarendon Murder Statistics by Year (2012–2025)
Year Number of Murders
2012 84
2013 112
2014 97
2015 122
2016 130
2017 169
2018 133
2019 117
2020 106
2021 106
2022 94
2023 105
2024 69
2025 41
- Olivia Brown
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