Durrant Pate/Contributor

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang is buoyed by serious inroads being made by Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in denting island’s criminal networks, as the latest data shows the police winning the battle against organised crime.

Chang, who made the disclosure, cited intelligence data showing that since the start of 2025, some 63 gangs have been impacted through investigations and operational efforts of the police force. In addition, 159 known gang members have been arrested while 34 members aligned to gangs were charged for applicable offences, which include murder, firearm breaches and lottery scamming.

Opening the 2025-26 Sectoral Debate on Tuesday (April 29) said 15 gang members have been charged under the Anti-Gang Bill, while 10 gang-related cases, involving over 90 accused, are currently before the courts.

Meanwhile, the ongoing efforts of the police resulted in 46 active gang investigations being pursued and 89 case files being newly opened.

Police winning the fight

During the first quarter of 2025, a total of 85 gangs have been identified as active across all 19 police divisions. This represents a significant reduction when compared to the 120 active gangs that were recorded during the same period in 2024, reflecting a decline of 35 gangs (29 per cent).

This downward trend, Chang declared, “Is a clear indication that our strategy is gaining traction and delivering tangible results in dismantling criminal networks and disrupting their operations. This is the power of focused, intelligence-driven policing. We are taking the fight to the gangs, and we are winning.”

The minister argued that the police force is utilising the strategy of “focused deterrence,” which is based on scientific analytics that he pronounced is indeed working.

According to Chang, “We are not just seeing better numbers; we are on a clear path to sustainable crime reduction. For the first time since structured data capture and disaggregation began in the JCF, we are recording several historic achievements.”

• Lowest weekly murder count in 24 years, with six murders during Christmas week in 2024.

• Lowest monthly murder count in 25 years – 48 murders in February 2025.

• Lowest quarterly murder total in 25 years – 187 murders in Q1 of 2025.

• Most consecutive weeks with murders below 15 in 25 years: A run of seven weeks since March 2025.

• Most weeks in a quarter with murders below 20 in 25 years – 11 weeks in Q1 of 2025.

• Lowest quarterly major crimes in 25 years – 898 cases in Q1 of 2025.

• Most firearms recovered in a single quarter – 276 firearms in Q1 of 2025.

At the close of 2024, murders fell by 18.4 per cent, building on a 7.3 per cent decline in 2023.

Analytical methods enhancing policing strategies

Minister Chang noted that under the leadership of Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake, the JCF has embraced advanced analytical methods to enhance policing strategies.

Notably, the force has integrated mathematical models into its operations, drawing on the groundbreaking work of Professor Jonathan Farley of Vanderbilt University, who proudly shares Guyanese and Jamaican heritage.

Professor Farley’s seminal applications of lattice theory and the Theory of Ordered Sets, originally to address terrorist cell dynamics, are now being applied to the analysis and disruption of criminal gangs operating in Jamaica.

These models provide critical insights into the structure, behaviour, and vulnerabilities of organised crime networks.

For Minister Chang, “This is innovation! This is deep thinking, data-driven policing. As a matter of fact, our very own commissioner, Kevin Blake, has gained international recognition for his work in this area of mathematical modelling for targeted crime fighting. This empirical approach is producing the desired results. Through deliberate conflict monitoring, meticulous evidence gathering, and the preparation of robust case files, we are better positioned to secure successful prosecutions and deliver justice.”