Hanover police commander raises alarm over domestic violence

Western Bureau: 

Superintendent Andrew Nish, commanding officer for the Hanover Police Division, on Thursday expressed concern at a rise in domestic violence in the parish, a trend he says is affecting murder figures in the rural area.

Nish used the opportunity to urge residents to report contentious situations they observe and believe could lead to violence.

According to him, the police have steadily reduced the parish’s murder rate in recent years. He cited statistics showing killings falling from a high of 72 in 2023 to 48 in 2024, and then to 22 last year.

“In 2025, the parish recorded 22 murders, a little under a 50 per cent decline over the previous year, so what is happening now is a cause for concern, as since the start of this year, the parish has recorded 10 murders, compared to eight over the similar period for last year,” he said.

Nish said his concern about domestic violence and interpersonal conflicts stems mainly from their unpredictability. He noted, however, that the police were encouraged by the absence of murders in the parish during May.

“What has given us the tick now is that on the morning of the first of June we have a young man deciding, through domestic dispute, to stab his wife,” Nish said, referencing an incident in which a male United States citizen murdered his spouse, a green card holder, during their visit to the island.

“Every death is regrettable as everyone counts, so as best as possible, whenever one has any insight on any dispute it is best that the police is called in, and we certainly will intervene and do our diligent follow-up, to keep the murder numbers down,” he said.

Nish further outlined that the Hanover police adopted several social intervention and operational strategies in 2024, which are now helping to reduce murders in the parish.

He highlighted a series of widely publicised community meetings, alongside the launch of two Police Youth Clubs in different communities, as initiatives producing positive results.

“As it relates to other categories of crimes, we are basically having an 82 per cent reduction in shootings, while all other categories of crime are low or there is a reduction, except aggravated assault, which comes right back to the domestic disputes, where persons are being assaulted with deadly weapons,” he said.

Nish added that while the police are appealing for public assistance in defusing domestic and interpersonal conflicts, they have also intensified their own efforts through targeted strategies to reduce, if not eliminate, such incidents.

He identified the Kingsvale policing area as the most peaceful community since the start of 2026, with no murders recorded. By contrast, Lucea and Green Island have each recorded three murders, while Hopewell has had two, and Ramble and Sandy Bay one each.           

bryan.miller@gleanerjm.com