Safe for Christmas - Security forces launch islandwide operations to reduce crime over the holidays
Published:Tuesday | December 4, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Despite the more than encouraging decline in all categories of major crime, the national security hierarchy has decided to lay down the gauntlet in the ongoing war against criminal elements, with the launch of a massive island-wide operation aimed at reducing the violence and murder rates in a number of police divisions.
Though the latest crime statistics indicate a 21.7 per cent decline in murders nationally, it also shows that certain police divisions - namely Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Clarendon, St Catherine, and Kingston and St Andrew - have an uncomfortably high volume of murders and other crimes, which the security forces are bent on arresting.
These areas will see a large deployment of soldiers and police over the coming days and weeks, conducting targeted raids, vehicle checkpoints, aerial operations, patrols, cordons and searches, snap raids and curfews, in the pursuit of wanted men and high violence producers, a statement from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) said.
Civil-military cooperation and media affairs officer for the JDF, Major Basil Jarrett, said that the operations are aimed at reducing the level of murder and violent crimes heading into the festive season and dismantling gangs and gang activity that have persisted in these communities.
CALL THE TIP LINE
"The JDF has committed all available resources and personnel to the fight, as we put our support behind the police who are leading the operations. In the meantime, we are calling on all law-abiding citizens to play their part by calling the various dedicated tip lines to give information on known criminal activity," said Jarrett.
He added that operations would extend into the New Year.
Jarrett also mentioned that the public should not worry about the suspension of their rights, as the latest operations are not on the same level as the states of public emergency or the zones of special operations now under way in sections of the island.
Persons are being urged to call the JDF tip line: 876-837-8888 to give information on criminal activity.