WESTERN BUREAU — Westmoreland, a rural parish which is home to approximately 126,100 residents, last year recorded a more than 100 per cent increase in murders, when compared to the previous year.

Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) liaison officer for Westmoreland, sergeant Alva Douglas, told the Observer that the parish recorded 41 murders in 2001, 22 more than the 19 recorded in the year 2000. This figure represents approximately 3.6 per cent of the national figure of 1,138 murders for the year.

In recent times, that parish has seen an upsurge in gang and drug-related crimes. In fact, Douglas confirmed that the increase in murders in the parish has been attributed to an upsurge in gang warfare and the marked increase in the trafficking of hard drugs. For example, he noted that at least 14 drug-related murders were committed in the communities of Berkshire and Belmont — two communities in the parish — between last September and the end of December.

However, to date, Douglas said the police had made 16 arrests in connection with the 41 murders committed in the parish.

But this year, he said, the police would be increasing its surveillance activities along the Negril to Whitehouse coastlines in an effort to reduce the numbers. They are also expected to strengthen their intelligence gathering capabilities.

“In addition to this, we will be conducting more roadblocks in the parish,” Douglas added.

But despite the marked increase of murders, Douglas said that there was a dramatic reduction in other crimes. “Crimes such as break-ins, sexual offences and wounding all show reductions,” the CCN officer said.