Is Kingston really dangerous??

Question

I'm always reading that Kingston is dangerous and it should be avoided! I know crime is rampant all over the world, but can l get some honest opinions from people who live there or those who have visited.

Answer 1

Honestly, i have felt more in danger in NEW YORK than in Kingston. I know kingston like the back of my hand. I know where NOT to go. Everywhere else in Kingston, your worst threat is robbery, if there is any threat at all.  Even still, if you carry your self in a certain way you WONT be robbed in Kingston. I've never been robbed. period.

Answer 2

Jamaica's crime is more of Organized crime than anything else. Visitors are hardly ever harmed.

Kingston does have a lot of places we like to cal "garrisons", some of which are very violent places and others very calm. Sometimes there are turf wars and all but this is just in some areas.

Kingston has a very wide cross-section of people... you can be on one street and it feels very eerie and ghetto-like with spray paint, bullet holes and all and in 3 minutes you are in a gated community with mansions.

Organized crime is among major problems in Jamaica. People rob and steal but not just randomly as some people make it seem.

Kingston is okay but if you are not used to a place do not go there alone, in whatever country or city it may be.

Blessings.

Answer 3

As a Jamaican living in Kingston I have to say that there is crime in Kingston but it is more concentrated in some areas than others. In the slums of course there are flare-ups of violence every once in a while but in the commercial areas like New Kingston which is the business district and some of the residential areas it is relatively safe. You really just need to be careful especially late in the night. This fact is not unique to Kingston or Jamaica. I dont think Kingston is worse than the rough parts of America. I feel safer here than in somewhere like East Orange NJ. You wouldnt roam the streets at night carelessly in your own country then dont do it here either. Whatever you do to keep yourself safe in your own country can be exercised here.