No party permits for crime hotspots, say Manchester police
Scammers on the cops’ radar, says Darby
Published:Saturday | April 9, 2022 | 12:10 AMTamara Bailey/Gleaner Writer
MANCHESTER:
With nightly curfew restrictions introduced two years ago to limit movement and slow COVID-19 transmission lifted last month, the Manchester Police Division is warning that some communities which have seen an uptick in crimes will not be granted party permits.
Commanding officer Superintendent Lloyd Darby made the disclosure at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce town hall at the Manchester Golf Club on Thursday, naming Comfort, Broadleaf, Heartease, Greenvale, New Hall and May Day among the hotspots.
He reminded others who have been granted permits that there are still rules governing their events.
“On weekends, Friday night into Saturday morning and Saturday night into Sunday morning, the cut-off time is 2 a.m. From Sunday night into Monday morning onward, the cut-off time is 12 midnight,” he reminded them.
Party dispute turns deadly
The latest murder in the parish stemmed from a dispute at a music event, which Darby said went beyond the allotted time.
Twenty-eight-year-old construction worker Kimarley Bryan was shot dead at a shop in Beverly district in Mile Gully last Sunday.
It is believed that Bryan was attacked as a result of a dispute he had with a man at a party a day earlier.
One person has so far been taken into custody in connection with the murder.
Darby encouraged citizens to report illegal events and those that go beyond the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, the superintendent said that up to Thursday, 13 murders had been recorded in the parish this year – up from the eight recorded for the corresponding period in 2021.
He said that they were not related to gang violence, but are a result of robberies and conflicts over the sharing of spoils among lottery scammers.
Darby said that investigations are ongoing into the activities of the scammers and their use of ill-gotten wealth to operate legitimate businesses.
The commanding officer said the police now have evidence that indicate that the scammers are also engaging in robbery of small businesses such as shops and bars, particularly those with poker boxes.
“The small business owners are not only targeted at their business places, but also their homes. Persons in the communities know that these people are business owners and that they might have cash, so they attack them at home,” he said as he encouraged persons to make themselves less vulnerable by being mindful of those around them and how they protect their property.
He recommended the installation of security cameras at homes, business places and use of trackers on vehicles and other valuable items that can be stolen.