KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Security Council (NSC) says it has instructed the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to review their systems of data collection and collation to ensure that there are no systemic challenges in declaring high crime zones.

The NSC, in a release today, said it has noted that at the press conference announcing the first zone of special operations there was an error made in the number of murders given as having been committed in the Mount Salem community in 2017.

During the announcement of the first zone of special operations Deputy Commissioner of Police, Clifford Blake said that murders in the Mount Salem area rose from 46 in 2014 to 85 in 2016, and 54 so far this year, with 12 known gangs operating in the community.

However, the NSC said that it “categorically” stands by its deliberate process of selection, and reaffirmed that the violence in the community and its influence on neighbouring areas, support the original recommendation and decision.

In the meantime the NSC said that it has asked the JCF to hold the correct Mount Salem Zone murder data until it has completed the review process. It added that it anticipates the correct information will be provided within the next 48 hours.