HANOVER, Jamaica- Head of the Hanover Police Division Superintendent Sharon Beeput says residents should start enquiring about the reason behind sudden visits from family members who reside outside of the parish as she believes that Hanover is often used as a hiding place for people involved in criminal activities.

The superintendent made the remarks while reporting on the murder of two construction workers and the injury of three other men when a gunman opened fire at a group of people who were standing at a jerk centre in Green Island, Hanover on Tuesday around 8:00pm.

The deceased men have been identified as 27-year-old Ayon Richards and 27-year-old O’Neill Spencer. Both men are labourers from Mavis Bank in St Andrew.

No motives have been found for the killing, however Superintendent Beeput disclosed that her team is carrying out intensive search in relation to the crime. She stated that the investigation is still “pretty young” but they have already taken in a few persons of interest.

READ: No motive for shooting death of two construction workers in Hanover

Superintendent Beeput told OBSERVER ONLINE that with Hanover being bordered by St James and Westmoreland— parishes which usually have high crime rates— people often escape to the parish, to stay with relatives and hide. She added that the people who they may have escaped from often pursue them into Hanover resulting in murder or other criminal activities.

“We are bordered by two parishes that a lot of activities take place [and] persons are pushed from St James and they are pushed from Westmoreland into our space so you find sometimes that some relatives are very accommodating and they take in these persons from various communities,” Superintendent Beeput said.

“Whenever things play out—because when they accepted them in their communities they don’t try to find out what it is you are running away from over in St James why you want to come and stay with me— persons probably would venture into our parish and pursue those persons and as a result of that these incidents do happen,” she added.

The Hanover Division boss went on to advise that residents ask questions or go to the police to have them run a background check on the visiting relatives to avoid getting hurt or killed.

“I believe relatives must find out from persons— unless you are a party to criminal activity then you will accept them readily— why do they want to come and stay at your house. Or you can contact the police and tell them what is happening. Tell them that this person is here visiting, he told you this is the situation but you are not of the belief that this is so, and ask ‘could you check him out for me?’. Then if we have that sort of cooperation from our citizens we will have a better flow in terms of [criminal] activities within these spaces,” Superintendent Beeput said.

According to crime statistics provided by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, up to July 29, 2023 Hanover reported 39 murders. For the corresponding period St James reported 119, while Westmoreland reported 72.