MONTEGO BAY, St James — Councillor Gregory Harris (Jamaica Labour Party, Salt Spring Division) has lauded the police for reducing crime in the parish and making a a positive impact on the area he represents.

“I have traversed my division and I can tell you, everywhere I go, when I meet with the different citizens’ associations or the community development committees, or other groups, they are commending the police,” Harris told the monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation on Thursday.

“Persons are feeling much safer and persons are trusting the police much more now than before,” added James.

The Salt Spring Division has had its share of challenges over the years with crime contributing to the high murder figures recorded in St James.

However, there has been a change since last year, with the police reporting that murders and other serious crimes have been on the decrease in Salt Spring and the parish at large.

During their report to Thursday’s meeting of the corporation the police highlighted the continued improvements being made in terms of crime management in the parish.

“When you look at the numbers from last year we have seen a steady reduction from the first quarter coming down,” said acting commander for the St James Police Division, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell.

“For the first quarter of last year there were 40 murders, the second quarter there were 33, third 29, the fourth quarter 23, and the first quarter of this year there were only 13 murders for the division,” said Russell.

He also pointed out that the police have had strong success in seizing illegal weapons since January.

“Since the start of the year we have seized 26 firearms and 818 rounds of ammunition,” said Russell, a disclosure that was applauded by Harris.

He told the meeting that these and other successes have changed how residents of his division now view members of the security forces.

“Flower Hill, all of those areas, they are comfortable. Persons are having a greater trust in the police and they are seeing the fruits of what the police are doing within the space,” Harris told the Jamaica Observer following the meeting.

He said in recent times residents have felt more confident in how they traverse the various communities in the area.

“We have seen more stuff being done in terms of interactions of communities. Persons are moving about more freely, more comfortably,” said Harris as he praised the police for their continued presence in his division and their community engagement — which he said has contributed to this change.

“A lot of investments have been done, and we are seeing now the physical manifestation of those investments in terms of more motor vehicles, more training for the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and a greater trust between the police and the citizens within the areas.”

According to Harris, based on what is now happening people are looking for the return of activities that have been stymied because of the crime situation.

“There was a meeting a couple weeks ago, and they are now looking at the return of round robins and stuff like that within the area. The conversations have started, and the consultation are taking place,” said Harris.