THE Cabinet yesterday approved additional budgetary support for the latest crime-fighting efforts of the security forces, but no details of any new measures were disclosed at the post-cabinet briefing.

The move came after Cabinet finally got to discuss National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips’ report on the “strategic response” of the security forces to the upsurge in murders and violence recorded at the start of the new year. The discussion was postponed last week because Phillips was in Trinidad and Tobago attending a security meeting for Cricket World Cup.

Information Minister Donald Buchanan told journalists yesterday that Cabinet had noted the actions that were being taken to stem the rise in crime and violence in Westmoreland and St James and the “consequential reduction”.

Buchanan said that it was agreed that the security forces should do “whatever is necessary” to continue this reduction.

However, there was agreement that for those efforts to succeed they must be supported by legislative changes, operational support and the provision of additional resources.

He said that, in the circumstances, representatives of the ministries of national security and finance would meet to determine the level of support that can be made available in both the supplementary estimates – expected by March – and the new 2007/2008 budget which will be tabled in April.

But Buchanan was unable to give any details about whether there was a new strategy being introduced, and what this involve, apart from the efforts being made in Westmoreland and St James.

He said Phillips would make a comprehensive report to the public at a future date.