SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland— Commanding officer for the Westmoreland Police d ivision, Superintendent Gary McKenzie, says the parish, which is currently under a state of public emergency (SOE), has seen a significant reduction in major crimes, including murders and shootings, since the start of the year, when compared to the same period last year.

According to Superintendent McKenzie, the parish has recorded 43 murders since the start of the year, 20 fewer that the similar period last year.

He added that there were also 46 shootings up to Monday, when compared to 81 over the same period last year.

The superintendent further noted that a number of firearms and ammunition have been recovered, while there have also been a marked increase in arrests for crimes such as shootings, sexual offences and robberies.

Citing examples, Superintendent McKenzie said so far this year, 13 persons have been arrested for murders; 10 for shootings, 15 for robberies seven for rape, 10 for break-ins and five for aggravated assault.

Four firearms, he added, have also been seized since the start of this month.

Additionally, since the start of this month, several wanted men have arrested and charged, while a number of “high value target subjects” have also been taken into custody.

“These persons are persons who are a part of criminal gangs and would have been creating mayhem last year into the early part of this year. And so, our investigations and our files are progressing quite intensely in terms of getting some of those persons before the courts in very short order,” Superintendent McKenzie revealed.

But despite the gains made, safety on the parish’s road network continues to be a challenge for the police.

Since the start of the year, 18 persons have lost their lives in fatal collisions in the parish.

“This is not something that we particularly like” stated McKenzie, noting that reckless driving has resulted in a number of children suffering because they have lost their breadwinners.

“What we are seeing here is the fact that driver-error is the cause of most of the accidents, and this is actually evident by persons not keeping to their left and overtaking improperly,” said McKenzie.

Since January, the division has issued 15,741 tickets of which 2,598 were for excessive speeding.

Between January and May 24, some 251 motorcycles were seized, 90 of which have been confiscated since the start of May.

“So we are trying to do our best, but it is not only about enforcement. We have sought to engage community members and even the motorcyclists themselves through community meetings, and of course we have in the past got very good help from the national road safety unit. And we have been continuing that effort as it relates to trying to ensure that the motorcyclists understand the very important needs of driving safely on the road,” Superintendent McKenzie explained.

Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Adrian Hamilton, who in charge of Negril and the greater zone four area, which includes Little London, has disclosed that the police anti-harassment efforts in the resort town of Negril has been bolstered with the recent acquisition of two All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV). He said the units have given the police tremendous access and mobility on the beaches.

“These are classified as motorcycles, but they have four wheels. Before we acquired those vehicles, the police would be on foot on the beach covering seven miles… that would pose a challenge with persons playing cat and mouse games with the police. Since the addition of that mobility, which is all part and parcel of the launch of the State of [Public] Emergency, along with our [Sustainable] Public Safety and Public Order campaign, has helped us significantly in terms of getting access to the areas of assignment much more efficiently,” DSP Hamilton explained.

DSP Hamilton also disclosed that the police will be seeking to capitalise on the recently installed CCTV in the resort town in “pursuing some of its investigations.”

The installation of the surveillance cameras, which started in 2017, was sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).