Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
A POLICE Public Safety Unit is to be deployed to Montego Bay, St. James, in an effort to create a safer environment for citizens and business operators in the second city, ahead of the Christmas season.
"Personnel will be deployed throughout the towns, especially on Market and Hart streets, which have in the past proven to be a haven for criminal activities," Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner, the officer with responsibility for the Area One Police Division, told journalists on Tuesday.
Superintendent John Morris, crime chief for the division, urged persons to be on the alert and report suspicious persons to the police.
"We need you to be vigilant and keep in touch with us ... be a player in providing a safer environment, especially in the Christmas season," Supt. Morris said.
REDUCTION IN MAJOR CRIMES
He added that the Area One Police Division, which comprises the parishes of St. James, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland, has seen a 19 per cent reduction in major crimes this year. A total of 1,232 major crimes have been reported since the start of the year, compared to 1,287 for the corresponding period in 2004.
"All divisions, with the exception of one, are showing a marginal reduction in crimes over last year. St. James is our major concern in terms of managing murders," the crime chief explained.
"Last year a team was activated to control homicides in Rose Heights, Norwood and Glendevon. I can safely say that Rose Heights is a success story, as there has been no such incident there for a year. However, we still have sporadic problems in the other areas."
The superintendent further disclosed that the cleared-up rate for murders in the four divisions has been significant. St. James, for example, has recorded 123 murders, 64 of which have been cleared up.
Westmoreland has successfully closed 16 of the 34 recorded in the parish, while Trelawny reports half of its 25, and in Hanover, six of 22 homicides have been closed.
