MONTEGO BAY, St James — In an effort to increase security presence in western Jamaica, the g overnment will be setting-up a permanent branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Mobile Reserve unit in Montego Bay.

The unit, which is expected to be established before the end of the current fiscal year, will be based on lands that currently house the Montego Hills Police Station in St James.

According to National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, the unit to be named Mobile Reserve West will operate primarily in hot spots across western Jamaica and will be established with approximately 250 policemen and women.

Chang added that Government will be acquiring lands adjacent to the Montego Hills Police Station to construct a barracks to house the lawmen assigned to the unit.

Dr Chang, who is also Member of Parliament for St James North Western, also announced plans to upgrade the physical structure of the Montego Hills Police Station.

He explained that with the exponential growth that the country is now witnessing, particularly in the areas of tourism and the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, it is vitally important that the security forces are equipped to break the back of crime, especially in western Jamaica.

“With over 12,000 persons employed in the BPO sector, significant increases in rooms and visitor arrivals, coupled with a massive population growth in St James, it is imperative to have a properly equipped security apparatus in western Jamaica to meet the security challenges,” Dr Chang argued.