Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service and President of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), Darrin Simons, has praised Jamaica’s recent strides in crime reduction, describing the progress as the “envy of every Caribbean nation.”
Speaking on Thursday at the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Transformation People Quality and Technology Expo 2.0, Simons urged continued support for the JCF, noting that the force has set a benchmark for policing across the region.
“Commissioner [Dr Kevin] Blake and his team haven’t just talked about transformation. They are delivering it. While our region grapples with rising violence, Jamaica has forged a new path. The numbers don’t just speak, they shout about what is possible,” said Simons, referencing the country’s 44 per cent reduction in murders and a 20 per cent drop in major crimes. The first quarter of 2025 marked Jamaica’s lowest crime figures in more than 25 years.
“These changes are the envy of every Caribbean nation. Indeed, any police force the world over would celebrate numbers like these. Jamaica just hasn’t improved, you have transformed the definition of what a well-led, sufficiently funded Caribbean police force can achieve,” he added.
Simons acknowledged that the region continues to face serious challenges.
“Gang violence sadly ravages many of our islands. We have a homicide rate that is several times higher than the global average and organised crime groups operate with a level of sophistication that rivals multi-nation corporations. They sometimes threaten the very foundations of our democracies. These aren’t distant problems. They’re knocking on each and every one of our doors every day,” he said.
He credited Jamaica’s success not only to enforcement but to a deeper commitment to trust-building and modernization.
“Communities don’t just want warriors, they want partners. They don’t just want occupiers, they want protectors, capable guardians. They don’t want to fear the police they want to trust the police, with a healthy dose of respect,” Simons said.
He stressed that community confidence is the cornerstone of effective policing.
“When communities trust the police, they share information with the police. When they share information with the police, we, the police, solve more crimes and when we solve more crimes, we build more trust. That’s the circle of community confidence that leads to successful policing.”
Simons said the JCF is redefining its relationship with the public. “The JCF is peeling back layers, showing the community aspects of their police force that they have never seen before. They are engaging with you in new ways. It’s what I call full F.A.T policing,” he said, explaining that F.A.T. stands for fairness, accountability, and transparency.
He urged other Caribbean territories to follow Jamaica’s lead. “We stand at a crossroads, we can let criminal networks define our future or we can follow Jamaica’s lead and transform our region into the safe prosperous, just society that our ancestors dreamed of,” Simons said.
Turning his attention to local leaders, Simons delivered a clear message: “Don’t ease up on the feed. You have invested in excellence, keep investing. The JCF needs your financial support and just as important, they need your very public backing. When our leaders back the police, the public back the police and the cycle of community confidence repeats itself.”
