KINGSTON, Jamaica– Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson reported an 81 percent drop in murders. At the same time, shootings fell by 56 percent after the declaration of a State of Public Emergency in the south-eastern parish of St. Catherine last month.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the enhanced security measure on June 17 to address the high level of crime in the parish, particularly murders.
The Commissioner said that over the 14 days, 66 persons were charged, 28 of whom were of severe crimes, including murder, shooting, and sexual offenses, while six persons were charged with breaches of the Law Reform Fraudulent Transactions Act or lottery scamming.
“Five wanted persons were taken into custody, three of whom were charged for sexual-related offenses and two for murder and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. Two major players involved in the gang conflicts in the St. Catherine North and South [police] divisions were also arrested and charged with murder, shooting, and illegally possessing a firearm,” he said.
Providing the figures during a virtual press conference on July 5, he added that seven illegal guns were seized.
Additionally, he told a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing was identified by a member of the security forces at a checkpoint in the company of an adult male. The adult male has since been charged with rape and sexual intercourse with a person under 16.
The Commissioner further noted that two 19-year-old males who were taken into custody during the state of public emergency as persons of interest in the double murder of Corporal Delwin Jackson and Kenroy Chandler on August 18, 2021, were charged with murder.
He said gang conflicts in St. Catherine in early June accounted for 21 murders and nine shootings.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that there has been a one percent reduction in major crimes.
“Since our last press briefing [in May], we have managed to reduce the gap in murders from an increase of 6.3 percent as was reported then, to 1.9 percent as at the end of June. This represents a 4.4 percent reduction in murders over that period,” he noted.
According to the Police Commissioner, gang conflicts account for 74 percent of murders, with interpersonal conflicts accounting for 14 percent; other criminal acts, six percent; and mob killings, another one percent. He said the remaining five percent is still being determined.
Meanwhile, shootings are down by nine percent and rape down 13 percent. Robberies went up by seven percent, while break-ins increased by four percent.
“We had anticipated an even greater decline in murders and shootings as our operational and investigative initiatives took effect. However, this was impacted by the increased gang conflicts in St. Catherine during the month and the murder of the mother and four children in Clarendon on June 21,” he said.
The Commissioner reminded Jamaicans to contact the police to intervene in conflicts in communities before they become a crime.
He pointed out that in early June, gang conflicts in St. Catherine accounted for 21 murders and nine shootings.
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