‘Keep up the good work’
Holness commends Manchester police, residents for crime reduction
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Residents and police in this south-central parish were commended by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Friday as Manchester continues to see a reduction in major crimes.
“With a little bit of sacrifice on the part of the citizenry in terms of cooperating with the police to ensure that the [security] measures can be in place, people can now enjoy their community in peace,” the prime minster said in Cedar Grove district.
“Keep up the good work,” Holness said during a briefing with operations officer for Manchester Deputy Superintendent of Police Luhas Daniels.
“The last time I got a report on Manchester you were doing very well, and you are continuing to do well, but there were some concerns being expressed about the party promoters and persons who have their round robin and bingo, because there was an impact from the use of earlier in the year… curfews,” added Holness.
Daniels said although all curfews have been lifted since last month in Manchester, the police are keeping watch on hot spots.
“At this moment there are no curfews in the parish but what we are doing, we are monitoring all of these hot spots. We are targeting the criminals with targeted raids, and our regular patrol, and other activities. [People] are giving us information so we are now joined, [through] community-based policing, with the people and the police,” he said, adding that “The division continues to enjoy a reduction in criminal activities.”
Pointing to the number of cases since the start of this year, Daniels said, “As it relates to murder, last year it was 13, this year it is [six]. As it relates to crime reported, [for] last year [it was] 102, this period 50 — a reduction of 51 per cent. We are resolute in our effort to reduce crime in this parish to make Manchester a safe place for the residents to live and enjoy themselves,” added Daniels.
Among the recent murders in Manchester was Thursday morning’s shooting death of popular dancer, 26-year-old Brittania “DHQ Chicken” Francis, at a bar in Richmond district. Detectives are probing several motives, including a theory that the killing could have been a case of mistaken identity.
