THE OPPOSITION Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has commended the police for an operation which led to the recovery of three illegal firearms in the troubled community of Rose Heights in St. James last week.
Clive Mullings, Member of Parliament for West Central St. James and Deputy Spokesman on National Security, lauded the work of the police, but stressed that more needed to be done to stem the crime wave affecting the country.
Mr. Mullings said that while murders were on the decline nationally, figures showed that there has been an increase in the number of murders in St. James. Last year, 82 persons were murdered in the parish, seven more than the previous year.
"These figures are too high, and the time has come for corrective measures to be put in place," Mr. Mullings said in a release.
The Opposition Spokesman said no effort should be spared in establishing a greater level of trust and confidence between the public and the police. He said that would go a far way in intelligence gathering, which could lead to the recovery of illegal weapons and the arrest of those responsible for criminal acts.
He has also called for increased police community activity and the use of metal detectors/scanners in the day-to-day operations of the police. He said the use of unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes police personnel could also enhance the intelligence gathering capacity of the force.
Mr. Mullings said that this year all efforts should be made by the police and civilians to reduce criminal activities.
