66% drop in Old Harbour murders

Last year a record 35 murders were logged within the locale which falls under the jurisdiction of the St Catherine South Police Division.

With roughly six weeks to go for the year to end, the area is already seeing a massive drop in homicides with only 11 murders registered as at November 12, 2020. This is 20 fewer than the 31 that was recorded for the corresponding period last year.

The data was disclosed by DSP Damion Manderson, commander in charge of the Old Harbour.

“Old Harbour, as a policing district inclusive of Old Harbour Bay, is currently experiencing a 66 percent reduction in murders and shootings,” Manderson told a group of residents during a virtual community meeting last week.

“In fact last year this time as we approach the Yuletide season here to date we had approximately 31 murders and at this time in 2020 we are accounting for 11 such murders.

“It’s a significant reduction, keep in mind though I’m not comforted because every single murder, every single life loss is one too many, and so we still have a lot of work to do as a community.”

The information is reflective of general trends for major crimes such as murders and shootings across the island which is experiencing a two percent reduction.

However, Old Harbour is seeing an uptick in break-ins and robberies, which is also the case nationally.

This fact was highlighted by DSP Hopeton Nicholson, representing SSP Clive Blair, head of St Catherine South Police Division.

In urging residents to be on the alert for fraudsters especially at this time of the year, DSP Nicholson also stressed the need for persons to secure their property.

“A lot of break-in offenses have been occurring in the Old Harbour district and we do not want you to fall victims of this,” he said. “Generally from a management level we hope that you would protect your assets, protect your home… If you have to use cameras, whatever you need to do so that you can be safer.”

The last recorded murder in Old Harbour occurred on October 26 when reputed gangster Clayton ‘Dutty Shut’ Blake was gunned by thugs in Panton Lane.