KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The St Catherine North Police is reporting a drop in murders in the division, due to intensified activities since the start of the year to dismantle criminal gangs and apprehended wanted persons.

Head of the division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Marlon Nesbeth, told JIS News that citizens are “feeling much safer now” particularly residents in the Kingsland area, where a couple was killed in January.

He informed that a number of the gang members, who where plaguing the Kingsland community are on the run, with the leader meeting his demise in a confrontation with the police. Another gang member was recently found in a section of Clarendon, and is now in police custody. 

“We have done a lot of work in that area (Kingsland), and generally within Spanish Town, and we are seeing a trending down on the high crime situation,” he said, adding that he expects that crime levels will continue to fall.

“People feel freer now to traverse the various communities. It is not by chance, it is how we have policed it (working) with the High Command, at the area level, and with outside resources, and initiatives that we strategised,” he outlined.

“We are seeing a cooperative effort from the people whom we serve. They are assisting the police tremendously,” SSP Nesbeth told JIS News.

The division head is calling on citizens to inform the police of wrongdoings in their neighbourhood “even before they start rake havoc in your communities.”

He also urging persons to pay attention to the wanted persons lists that are published  and “tell us of if you see or know these wanted men”.

“We want to know where these guys are, tell us, because they can only do harm to you, in your community,” he pointed out.