KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Police have expressed concern regarding the recent upsurge of criminal activity in sections of the Kingston Western Division and say they have deployed additional personnel to the troubled area.

The spike in crime has been attributed by the police to a struggle between criminal factions for control of the area including the tough communities of Tivoli, Denham Town, Jones Town, Hanna Town and Rema.

“Police intelligence suggests that since the arrest and subsequent extradition of Christopher Coke, individuals said to be related to a prominent family that claimed to rule the community from the nineties to 2010, and others claiming to be relatives of a late well-known resident, who claimed to be a ‘Don’, and was said to be the leader of the community in the1980s have become involved in a deadly battle for control,” a police statement Monday said.

In recent times there have been a number of shootings, murders and robberies in the area including the shooting deaths of an 11-year-old girl and a Clarendon businessman. And two men were last week gunned down within minutes of each other as gang war raged in the Division. There is also an increase in the number of robberies in the downtown Kingston commercial district and inside the Coronation market, the police said.

According to the police, who are appealing to West Kingston residents to assist them in carrying out their duties,“no criminal network, group or individual will be allowed to set up or operate any thraldom where citizens of this country cannot operate at their will”.