Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared a State of Public Emergency in 10 policing divisions as a means of quelling the stagnant tide of violence that has plagued these divisions.

These divisions include Clarendon, St Catherine and sections of Kingston and St Andrew, St James, Westmoreland, and Hanover.

This declaration was made during a press conference at Jamaica House a short while ago. Prime Minister Holness underscored that the listed policing divisions have increased cases of crime and violence and presents a threat to public order.

“The government, after careful consideration on the advice of the security chiefs, have decided to advise the Governor General that it was necessary and indeed appropriate to declare States of Public Emergency in these areas.

We have seen an increase in criminal activity in these areas and indeed a threat to property and in some instances public disorder.” he said.

Commissioner Anderson also stated that these policing divisions also account for 72 percent of the murders and 75 percent of the shootings. As such, the primary focus of the SOE will be to target gunmen and other criminals that insist on disrupting the moral fabric of the society.

“As at November 13, we have had a total of 1,360 murders in Jamaica. It’s really at that point an increase of 6.8 per cent over last year.

The main drivers of these violent crimes continue to be gang violence which accounts for 71 per cent of all murders and interpersonal conflicts which account for another 16 per cent of all murders.” Commissioner Anderson explained.

“We will be targeting guns, gangs and gunmen who are the chief architects of the sort of violence we are seeing in the society,” Anderson continued.