THE Jamaica Constabulary Force’s divisional commanders have vowed to ramp up their efforts in hope of seeing a reduction in the country’s troubling murder rate within the next two months.

“There was a resolve by the divisional commanders to exert every effort and every strategy to see a reduction in murder in the next two-and-a-half months are so,” Deputy Commissioner Glenmore of Police Hinds told the Jamaica Observer following a meeting with the country’s divisional commanders and Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams yesterday morning at the Police Officer’s Club in Kingston.

According to Hinds, the police will be targeting gangs, going after wanted men as well as persons involved in the lottery scam. In addition, he said the police will be increasing its presence on the streets, town centres and bus parks. Police will also be going after players in the guns-for-drugs trade.

Hinds said that while the strategies are not new they have proven to be effective in crime reduction. “We are more focusing on the things that have worked for us in the past and enhancing some of the things that we are doing now,” he said.

“We will be deploying the nine boats that we have to give greater coverage of our coastal areas and help reduce the flow of guns [into the island]” the deputy police chief said.

In the meantime, Hinds appealed to citizens to assist the police with information concerning criminal activities and urged those involved in conflict with others to try and resolve them in a peaceful manner.

In addition, he said that it was in the best interest of individuals, especially those who are related to criminals and are aware of their activities, to report what they themselves could be in danger because of their relation to the criminal.

“One things we know for certain is that most of the persons who are involved in criminal activities, relatives, friends, associates, girlfriends, husbands and wives do know of their involvement, so it is for them also to partner with us…,” said Hinds.

“If you provide support to a relative in criminal activities, what you are actually doing is making life difficult for you because quite often the relative that is being pursued is aware and will probably be elusive and difficult, but you might not be so aware or you might not believe that you will be targeted but you might very well find that because your relative can’t be found and you are easily located then you are targeted,” he explained.

“It is for all citizens to play their part by being good citizens and report what they know [as] it is in the interest of all to make this country a safer place and we all can play a part and should play a part,” said Hinds.

Police statistics show that up to October 24 some 1,016 murders have been reported, compared to 822 for the same period in 2014.

The St James Police Division, which is battling with the lottery scam operation, has the highest number of murders, 197, up to October 24, when compared to 122 for the same period last year.