KINGSTON, Jamaica — Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams, says that the Jamaica Constabulary Force will intensify the deployment of police officers to combat the recent upsurge in murders across the nation.

“We condemn the senseless killing of innocent Jamaicans, and will heighten our efforts to track down and bring these offenders to justice,” Dr Williams said.

The commissioner has expressed deepest condolences to the families, which have lost loved ones violently across the island. He has strongly condemned the killing of four persons, including one woman and a child, in one incident in St James and the murder of three men in Duhaney Park, St Andrew, in another incident, over the last 48 hours, and has promised that the full intelligence and investigative capacities of the force will be deployed to find the killers.

In a move to ensure that the murder hot spots are given urgent attention, the Commissioner has announced that immediate steps are being taken to strengthen the command resilience of the St James Division, which will see Senior Superintendent Steve McGregor of the Kingston Western Division taking command. He will be assisted by a strong team of investigators and proven crime fighters from the Corporate Area.

The St James Division is now headed by Senior Superintendent Derrick Champagnie.

The Commissioner has also issued a call for all Jamaicans to unite in the fight against criminal elements.

“We cannot continue to allow our differences to make us ignore the fact that there are persons among us who have become killing machines and are motivated to reverse all of the progress that we have made in the fight against crime. It is time for all Jamaicans to understand that we must work together to make this society safe for all our families and visitors,” Dr Williams said.