After uptick in 2024 cops vow to reduce murders in Manchester
PORUS, Manchester — The leadership of the Manchester Police Division has vowed to further reduce homicides even as they celebrate the reduction recorded last year.
Head of the Manchester police Deputy Superintendent Carey Duncan says the division recorded a 19 per cent decrease in major crimes last year when compared to 2023, but the parish recorded 50 murders up from 44 the previous year.
“We did see an uptick in our murders and because of that our strategy for this year going forward is our murder reduction strategies. I can assure that if you are out there anywhere on the road in Manchester, you will see our boots on the ground,” Duncan said on Sunday at the annual Manchester police church service in Porus.
He said reported cases of rape went down by 24 per cent with five fewer cases in 2024 compared to 2023.
“Aggravated assaults were down by three [and] robberies declined by 27. At one point Manchester was seen as the break-in capital of Jamaica and over the past 10 years when we look at the trend break-ins have gone down by some 270 per cent,” Duncan told his audience to loud applause.
He underscored that the target of the police this year will be on reducing murders.
“With the help of God, and our posturing as a police force, our strategic and deliberate actions, so far this year we have not seen any murders,” said Duncan.
“When we look at the murders that we were challenged with last year some of them were domestic in nature and I just want to implore persons that where we have these issues we need to find some amicable way to deal with them. Some mature ways to sort out your domestic issue. We have the restorative justice centres across the parish,” added Duncan.
He also pointed to resources available at the police Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB) which can assist people to settle disputes.
“So we ask you please to engage us in dealing with these disputes, so we don’t have our numbers going up unnecessarily,” declared Duncan as he pointed out that the Manchester police have a high clear-up rate for murders with several people being prosecuted.
“Last year 73 per cent of people who committed murders were arrested and charged. Last year there was also a 50 per cent increase in our firearms [seizures] over 2023. Last year we [seized] 24 firearms to include high-powered rifles. We also [seized] 298 rounds of ammunition,” added Duncan.
In the meantime, Member of Parliament for Manchester Central Rhoda Crawford reminded the congregation of her decision to support the police’s imposition of curfews in areas when their is a spike in crime.
“The members of the security forces have my full support, 250 per cent, in their crime fighting efforts in the parish,” said Crawford.
“If we are to be serious about reducing our numbers in Manchester as people of the community… it doesn’t matter the position of leadership you serve in whether it is civil society, the church, the youth services, the political directorate, ordinary Jamaicans, business operators we must realise that the efforts of the security forces requires all hands on decks.
“We are all responsible to join the fight and when the police have to make serious decisions and determinations about locking off the parties and implementing curfews they are acting on intelligence. They are not trying to stop your livelihood. What they want is for you to be safe,” added Crawford.