Greenwich Farm nears two years murder-free as St Andrew South cuts major crime

GREENWICH TOWN, St Andrew — Greenwich Farm in Zone 1 of the St Andrew South Policing Division is approaching two years without a murder, a result senior officers say has helped drive a wider drop in major crime across the division.

Senior Superintendent Damian Manderson, commanding officer for St Andrew South, said the community’s zone of special operation began on 1 July 2020. Since then, police have used what he described as a clear-hold-build strategy: first dismantling gangs and removing illegal firearms, then working with the Ministry of National Security, social-development bodies and local groups to strengthen community structures.

Manderson said the strongest factor in Greenwich Farm’s progress has been officers remaining on the ground and building trust. Patrols are expected to engage residents, not simply pass through, and repeated meetings have helped bridge old divides. That unity, he said, has sent a clear signal that criminals no longer have space to operate.

Stakeholders have been involved in every initiative, he added. Pastors, justices of the peace, civic groups, the Greenwich Farm football club and political representatives all contributed, with residents among those who first called for stepped-up police action.

Deputy Superintendent Paul Bennett, Zone 1 commander, said robust leadership in the field and youth outreach—including corner games such as dominoes and cards—have supported the reduction in serious offences.

Inspector Vasel, the ZOSO commander with daily responsibility in Greenwich Farm, pointed to proactive policing, early conflict resolution and swift handling of threats. He said residents now feel safer moving between the lower and upper sections of the community.

Manderson identified a key risk ahead: people who left during past conflicts—through imprisonment, overseas migration or displacement—returning with plans to resume gang activity, gun-running or drug trafficking. Officers monitor prison releases through official notices and speak directly with returnees, while a police youth club and a community development committee work to build lasting resilience.

He urged residents to guard recent gains carefully, comparing the community’s progress to caring for a young child that must be nurtured and protected from outside disruption.