NATIONAL Security Minister Peter Phillips is expected to announce new initiatives next week to tackle an ever-growing crime problem, following a closed door meeting with top officers of the police force and the army.

Close to 50 murders have been recorded on police blotters since the start of the year, threatening to reverse crime-fighting gains last year during which murders dropped by 20 per cent in Jamaica.

Phillips and the heads of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force yesterday met to hammer out a strategy to rein in the crime monster.

A release from the Minister of National Security said the new initiatives, which were devised at the meeting, would be presented to the nation after their approval by Cabinet.

“I discussed the crime situation in the country at length with the commissioner, the high command and the Jamaica Defence Force, after which we agreed on specific measures which will be presented to Cabinet on Monday,” the release quoted Phillips as saying.

In the mean time, present measures to tackle crime will remain in place.

Most of the 50 murders have taken place in the police Area One Division covering the parishes of St James and Westmoreland. According to police reports, the division has experienced a 350 per cent jump in murders (nine) over the first six days of this year, when compared with the same period last year (two).

Joint police/military operations in those parishes would be strengthened, Phillips also announced.

“In the interim, the police will continue its operational activities throughout the country but especially in St James and Westmoreland,” the release said.

Last year, 178 persons, more than 10 per cent of all murders islandwide, were recorded in St James, home of the north coast tourist capital of Montego Bay.