Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service and President of the Affiliation of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), Darrin Simons, has praised Jamaica’s latest strides in crime discount, describing the progress because the “envy of each Caribbean nation.”
Talking on Thursday on the Jamaica Constabulary Pressure’s (JCF) Transformation Folks High quality and Know-how Expo 2.0, Simons urged continued assist for the JCF, noting that the drive has set a benchmark for policing throughout the area.
“Commissioner [Dr Kevin] Blake and his group haven’t simply talked about transformation. They’re delivering it. Whereas our area grapples with rising violence, Jamaica has solid a brand new path. The numbers don’t simply communicate, they shout about what is feasible,” stated Simons, referencing the nation’s 44 per cent discount in murders and a 20 per cent drop in main crimes. The primary quarter of 2025 marked Jamaica’s lowest crime figures in additional than 25 years.
“These modifications are the envy of each Caribbean nation. Certainly, any police drive the world over would have a good time numbers like these. Jamaica simply hasn’t improved, you could have remodeled the definition of what a well-led, sufficiently funded Caribbean police drive can obtain,” he added.
Simons acknowledged that the area continues to face severe challenges.
“Gang violence sadly ravages a lot of our islands. We have now a murder charge that’s a number of occasions increased than the worldwide common and organised crime teams function with a degree of sophistication that rivals multi-nation firms. They generally threaten the very foundations of our democracies. These aren’t distant issues. They’re knocking on every one in all our doorways every single day,” he stated.
He credited Jamaica’s success not solely to enforcement however to a deeper dedication to trust-building and modernization.
“Communities don’t simply need warriors, they need companions. They don’t simply need occupiers, they need protectors, succesful guardians. They don’t need to concern the police they need to belief the police, with a wholesome dose of respect,” Simons stated.
He burdened that group confidence is the cornerstone of efficient policing.
“When communities belief the police, they share data with the police. Once they share data with the police, we, the police, remedy extra crimes and after we remedy extra crimes, we construct extra belief. That’s the circle of group confidence that results in profitable policing.”
Simons stated the JCF is redefining its relationship with the general public. “The JCF is peeling again layers, displaying the group points of their police drive that they’ve by no means seen earlier than. They’re participating with you in new methods. It’s what I name full F.A.T policing,” he stated, explaining that F.A.T. stands for equity, accountability, and transparency.
He urged different Caribbean territories to comply with Jamaica’s lead. “We stand at a crossroads, we are able to let legal networks outline our future or we are able to comply with Jamaica’s lead and remodel our area into the protected affluent, simply society that our ancestors dreamed of,” Simons stated.
Turning his consideration to native leaders, Simons delivered a transparent message: “Don’t ease up on the feed. You’ve invested in excellence, hold investing. The JCF wants your monetary assist and simply as necessary, they want your very public backing. When our leaders again the police, the general public again the police and the cycle of group confidence repeats itself.”
