The St. Elizabeth Police Division has reported a historic milestone, recording its lowest murder count in 25 years with only 12 homicides documented up to October 2025.
Divisional Commander Superintendent Coleridge Minto shared the update during the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting in Black River on October 9, noting a 56 per cent reduction compared to the same period last year, when 27 murders were recorded.
“We’re at 12 murders compared to 27 last year at this time,” Minto said, describing the decline as a significant achievement for the division. He also reported a 67 per cent clear-up rate for murder cases, a reflection, he said, of improved police investigations and operational response.
Minto revealed that seven of the 12 murders, or 59 per cent, resulted from interpersonal disputes, adding that the last three killings in the parish were all domestic or personal conflicts.
He urged residents to seek help through the Domestic Violence Intervention Centre and Restorative Justice Centres in Santa Cruz, as well as from counsellors and Justices of the Peace, to prevent disputes from escalating into violence.
Between January 1 and October 4, St. Elizabeth recorded 175 major crimes, a 14 per cent reduction from 2024, representing 28 fewer incidents overall.
- Shootings declined by 28 per cent, from 18 to 13 cases.
- Larceny fell by 50 per cent, and robberies dropped by a striking 63 per cent.
- Rape cases decreased by six per cent, though Minto noted ongoing concerns, particularly regarding sexual offences involving minors.
Despite this, the rape clear-up rate stands at 112 per cent, meaning nearly all cases are solved. “If you commit rape, we are going to find you,” Minto stated, explaining that in most cases, the perpetrator is known to the victim.
However, break-ins have risen by 24 per cent, with bars being the most frequent targets. The towns of Santa Cruz (17 cases), Junction (16), and Black River (14) were identified as the top three hotspots.
“So, we’re not celebrating yet,” Minto cautioned. “There’s still a lot of work to do. There’s nothing more important than life itself. We will continue to work with our partners and motivate our officers who serve around the clock to keep major crimes low.”
