With firearm killings falling sharply, knives are taking a bigger bite out of Jamaica’s murder toll — and the police are preparing to turn up the heat on the possession of offensive weapons.

With firearm-related killings falling sharply, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has given its clearest indication yet that “the next frontier for homicide reduction” involves interpersonal and domestic violence prevention.

The warning comes against the backdrop of a striking trend in the latest homicide data. Stabbing homicides have plunged by approximately 69 per cent since 2022, falling from 109 to 34 year-to-date in 2026. However, its share of all homicides has risen from about seven per cent to 12 per cent over the period.