KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Security Council (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is in the process of developing a strategic anti-crime action plan.

In a news release a short while ago, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said the plan is to involve “an integrated and comprehensive set of measures and actions to significantly reduce crime in the country”.

The NSC recently began to meet monthly rather than quarterly and is reportedly aiming for an October 2016 timeline for the submission of a completed plan to Cabinet.

The plan is said to be focusing on a wide range of areas, particularly those that relate to violent crime, crimes involving the use of firearms, and lotto scamming.  

Increased population of the security forces as well as their base locations and mobility, the enhancement of investigative and prosecutorial capacities complemented by attendant administrative processes, the judicial framework and procedures, relevant legislative Acts and instruments and the correctional system are all said to be before the council.

The council, which is an organ of Cabinet, also includes the minister of finance and the public service, the minister of national security, the minister of justice, the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, the attorney general, the chief of defense staff, and the commissioner of police.