Falmouth

Is Falmouth safe?

For a cruise day or a resort stay, yes, with the usual Jamaican precautions. This page is about Falmouth on Jamaica's north coast, in the parish of Trelawny, not the town of the same name in England. It covers the town and its cruise pier. Crime figures are for the whole parish, because the police publish them by division, and Trelawny is one division.

Trelawny is the quietest of Jamaica's resort parishes. The Jamaica Constabulary Force counted 7 murders there from 1 January to 31 October 2026, down from 11 a year earlier, and 7 shootings, down from 9. On the preliminary census count of 77,427 people, that is about 11 murders per 100,000 a year, roughly half the rate in St Ann around Ocho Rios and a third of the rate in St James around Montego Bay. We score Falmouth 46, the highest of the Jamaican places we cover, but still well below the Mexican Caribbean.

Crime that reaches visitors

The one number moving the wrong way is rape: Trelawny police recorded 18 cases to the end of October 2026, up from 13. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says British visitors have reported rape and sexual assault in tourist areas, often by someone they met socially at a bar, hotel, beach or excursion. Canada says not to take unmarked taxis because of the risk of robbery and sexual assault. Do not share your room number with new acquaintances, and arrange your own transport back.

Theft is modest in absolute terms. The parish recorded 9 robberies and 19 break-ins in the ten months, both level with or below 2025. The FCDO says robbery is the motive for most attacks on tourists and that burglaries happen at resorts too, so use the safe and lock doors and windows.

The US advisoryUS travel advisoryThe US State Department's rating of each country from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel).More in the glossary, updated on 22 June 2026, lists places in ten parishes where Americans should reconsider travel. None is in Trelawny. The FCDO's list of places to be careful does not include Falmouth either.

Policing in town

Falmouth has had two notable police measures in the past year. After a murder in the town following Hurricane Melissa, police ordered businesses to close at 9 pm each night from 16 November 2025, saying "undesirables" were hanging around the town. It was still in force in mid-December 2025, with no end date given, and we found no later report on it. In October 2026 the Trelawny division launched a beat patrol unit in Falmouth, told to "own the town", with a remit that includes drug dealing, larceny and harassment of visitors.

We found no state of emergency or special security zone in force in Trelawny in November 2026. Jamaica declares them at short notice after outbreaks of shootings, with curfews and searches. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says tourists are not usually affected, but ask your hotel or ship if one is announced.

Melissa, the hospital and the sea

Trelawny was one of the parishes inside Melissa's inner core in October 2025. The National Hurricane Center recorded a gust of 105 knots at Hampden in the parish and estimates the storm surge near Falmouth at up to about 4 ft above ground. At Falmouth Hospital the sea came through the gate and flooded the wards, staff told The Gleaner days later, and the roof was torn off parts of the emergency department.

The 139-bed hospital has since been repaired, with a new concrete roof on the accident and emergency department. In October 2026 the health minister said the main A&E ward was about 90% complete, with only the air conditioning left to install. The US advisoryUS travel advisoryThe US State Department's rating of each country from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel).More in the glossary says emergency response in Jamaica is slow, ambulances are not always staffed and private hospitals want payment before admission. Bring your medicines and buy insurance with air evacuation.

The cruise terminal came through better. Caribbean Princess called on 2 December 2025, the first ship since the storm, making Falmouth the last of Jamaica's major cruise ports to reopen. Canada warns that riptides are common, not all beaches have lifeguards, and adventure tour operators may not meet Canadian standards.

Roads and getting around

Jamaica's police counted 374 road deaths in 2025, about 13 per 100,000 people. Canada says coastal roads are in fair condition but inland roads are narrow, winding and poorly lit. US government staff may not use public buses or drive between cities at night. Use taxis ordered through your hotel and authorised by JUTA, the licensed tourist taxi association, as Canada advises, agree the fare before you go, and do not walk between town and hotels after dark.

How we scored it

Violent crime (52) is Falmouth's best factor, because Trelawny's murder rate is about half that of the other resort parishes. Natural hazards (38) is the weakest, reflecting Melissa's inner core and storm surge in 2025. Night safety (40) follows the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary's advice not to walk at night anywhere in Jamaica. The weighted average of 46 is well below any limit from Jamaica's conflict score of 75.