For the first quarter of 2023, Jamaica recorded its lowest murder rate for a first quarter in the last seven years, reports Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. “Since the start of this year and up to April 22, 2023, murders committed in the country have reduced by 17 per cent, compared to 2022. Overall, major crimes are...

The Government will continue to expand the network of cameras to boost the country’s national closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance programme, dubbed ‘JamaicaEye’. More than 860 Government CCTV cameras have been installed in townships across the island under the programme. This was disclosed by Minister of National Security and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, during his contribution to the...

Another 1,000 body-worn cameras will be procured for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) during the 2023/24 fiscal year. A body-worn camera is a wearable audio, video, or photographic recording system used to document images of activities. Making his contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, today (April 25), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of...

The Senate has appointed a select committee to review three crucial pieces of legislation to impose stricter penalties for murder. They are the Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act 2023, the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act 2023, and the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act 2023. Committee members, who were named during Friday’s (April 21) sitting of the Upper House,...

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday (April 19), approved a further 60-day extension of the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) in seven areas across Jamaica. They are Denham Town, Kingston; Norwood and Mount Salem, St. James; Greenwich Town, Parade Gardens and August Town, St. Andrew, and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. According to statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, as of April 13,...

CARICOM leaders have agreed to a ban on assault weapons in the region, except for use by the security forces and in sporting competitions. This was among a slew of measures coming out of the recently concluded regional symposium on ‘Violence as a Public Health Issue – The Crime Challenge’, which was attended by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government...

CARICOM leaders are being urged by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, to continue lobbying the United States (US) for its assistance in stemming the flow of guns into the Caribbean. “We must, as a collective group, agree that greater resources must be placed into national security, into our police forces, into our ability to gather intelligence and interdict...