SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth –

Alarmed by rising crime in the traditionally quiet Balaclava Division of North East St Elizabeth, Councillor Everton Fisher (PNP) has written to the Ministry of National Security urging that a broken-down police vehicle be replaced as quickly as possible.

In a letter to the Permanent Secretary in the National Security Ministry, Major Richard Reese, Fisher said police personnel at the Balaclava Police Station were now experiencing “severe hardships” because the vehicle assigned to them has been “out of use for some time”.

The Balaclava police were being forced to depend on the Siloah police for help in their investigations and routine activities, he said.

Fisher said the situation was especially urgent since there had been a sudden surge in criminal incidents in recent times including the breaking and entering of the health centre, the primary school, the library and a church. A private motor car was also stolen recently, he said.

The councillor praised the Balaclava police for their anti-crime efforts including increased patrols at nights despite the absence of transportation.

He has also urged residents to cooperate fully with the police in order to combat criminals in the Balaclava area. “Crime must not be condoned, every effort must be made to stop culprits,” said Fisher.