Jamaica records 24 per cent reduction in murders – Chang

According to Jamaica Observer (General News), Jamaica has recorded a 24 per cent reduction in murders this year when compared to the corresponding period in 2025. As at Tuesday, October 6, there were 407 homicides recorded across the country, according to the Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, who provided the update during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives. Chang noted that this compares with 534 murders during the similar period last year. He also shared that between July and September, Jamaica recorded 123 murders. “This is the lowest quarterly figure recorded in more than three decades,” he said while pointing out that September recorded 36 murders, the lowest monthly total in more than 30 years. It was also the fourth month this year in which Jamaica recorded 40 or fewer murders. Chang highlighted that five of the first nine months of 2026 are among the lowest monthly murder totals r