More Firearm Arrests Than Fatal Confrontations Recorded Over Recent Years, Says DCP Stewart

KINGSTON, Jamaica — New data released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) indicate that significantly more people have been arrested with illegal firearms than those killed during confrontations with security forces over the past several years.

The figures were disclosed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Richard Stewart, who has responsibility for crime and security, in a recent newspaper column. His comments come as public attention intensifies around the number of fatal encounters involving law enforcement.

The issue has gained renewed focus following reports that 16 people were killed by security forces within the first seven days of the new year, including eight fatalities on New Year’s Day alone. Public concern has also been heightened by the death of four-year-old Romaine Bowen in Granville, St James, who was reportedly struck by a bullet fired by a soldier.

According to DCP Stewart, fatal confrontations increased sharply in 2025, when more than 300 people were killed during encounters with members of the security forces. That trend prompted alarm from the Independent Commission of Investigations and various civil society groups.

However, Stewart noted that between 2023 and 2025, a total of 528 people were killed in police-related confrontations, while 923 individuals were arrested while in possession of a firearm during the same period. He pointed out that this means roughly 75 per cent more people caught with illegal guns survived their interactions with law enforcement.

The senior officer reiterated the police’s longstanding appeal for suspects to surrender peacefully rather than challenge security forces. He said the JCF has intensified efforts to curb crime by aggressively targeting the illegal gun trade.

Since the passage of the Firearms Act in 2022, Stewart said 3,651 people have been arrested and charged under the legislation. He also reported that 1,201 firearms were seized in 2025, the highest number recorded in a single year.

While acknowledging challenges in existing laws, particularly in proving custody in gun-trafficking cases, Stewart described 2025 as a landmark year for the JCF. Murders fell below 1,000 for the first time since 2003 and dropped under 700, marking the lowest level since 1994.

The year also recorded the largest reduction in murders in more than four decades. Stewart said the 43 per cent decline from 2024 to 2025 was the most significant drop since 1980–1981, when murders fell by 45 per cent.