Through sustained and intensified crime fighting strategies, murders in 2014 were at their lowest in 11 years, says Commissioner of Police, Dr. Carl Williams. He noted that the year 2014 ended with a major reduction in all categories of crimes in Jamaica. “The murder rate at the end of last year was 36 per 100,000 of the population, compared to...

The Ministry of National Security has launched a campaign to maintain peace in vulnerable and volatile communities throughout the holiday season. The campaign targets communities in a number of parishes, including St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. James, Kingston and St Andrew. Speaking with JIS News, Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, said the campaign has two components. He noted that one...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has received two new motor vehicles to boost its capacity to provide traffic management and security along the North/South leg of Highway 2000. The vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota pickup, were donated by the management of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited. Speaking at the handover ceremony held on Thursday (December 18)...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will be seeking to strengthen its youth club network and revamp dormant neighbourhood watches next year. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Karina Powell-Hood, who is attached to the Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB), said these groups are critical partners in the fight against crime. “We actively pursue youth clubs because we recognise that this...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, has strongly condemned the murder of Police Constable Orville Preddie, a 10-year member of the Force attached to the Asia Police Station in Manchester, and the second policeman to die at the hands of gunmen this year. Constable Preddie was brutally slain by gunmen in the Asia community late last night. It is...

The Legal Aid Council will be advancing its recommendations for reform of the Legal Aid Act in 2015. Executive Director of the Legal Aid Council, Hugh Faulkner, said that currently the Council only grants representation at the local Appeal Court. “Whichever court is the final court of appeal, the citizen, in our view, ought to have access to legal aid...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is urging citizens to be extra vigilant as they go about their various activities during the festive season. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) at the Community Safety and Security Branch, Karina Powell-Hood, said that there is usually an increase in robberies, road crashes, fraudulent activities and house break-ins during this period and so it is...