JPs Urged to Collaborate More Closely with the Police

Justices of the Peace (JPs) in Western Jamaica have been urged to collaborate more closely with law enforcement in combatting criminal gangs, by Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck.

The appeal came during a JP Sensitisation Session, held at the Royalton in Negril, Westmoreland, on February 12.

Mr. Chuck noted that more than 150 active criminal gangs currently operate across Jamaica, with many in western parishes, such as Westmoreland, St. James, Hanover, and Trelawny.

He said these gangs continue to thrive through illicit activities, including scamming, extortion, and robbery, which fuel a cycle of violence and lawlessness.

As such, JPs in the West must play a more active role in crime prevention, the Minister emphasised.

“We have a number of police stations across Westmoreland for instance, and we are going to ask as many JPs as possible to make themselves available to work with these officers in the different police stations,” Mr. Chuck said.

“I am not asking you JPs to do police work, but to get to know the police officers, and to the extent that you have information, get in touch with the police so that information can be passed on [to help apprehend criminals],” he added.

In the meantime, Mr. Chuck noted the decline in murders across western Jamaica in 2024, compared to the previous year.

Westmoreland’s murder count dropped from 117 in 2023 to 100 in 2024.

St. James saw a significant reduction from 188 to 125 murders, while in Hanover, the number fell from 72 to 48. Trelawny recorded a marginal improvement with 24 murders in 2024, compared to 25 in the previous year.

Mr. Chuck said this positive trend has continued into the current year, with preliminary data showing that St. James has recorded only six murders, compared to 17 during the same period last year.

In Hanover, murders have been halved from four to two, while Trelawny has reported no murder, so far, down from five in the corresponding period last year. Westmoreland, on the other hand, has maintained the same level with four murders.

“This shows the tremendous work being done by the police, and we want to congratulate the police in these four parishes for the excellent work that they have been doing,” Mr. Chuck said.

“However, we still need to find more ways and means to reduce the number of murders. I can assure you that from where I sit, we (Government) are giving the police all the necessary resources.

The Police Commissioner is inspiring and is encouraging all of his Superintendents across the various parishes to do everything in their powers to save lives,” he added.

The sensitisation session featured presentations from key government agencies, including the Administrator General’s Department (AGD), Office of the Public Defender (OPD), National Identification & Registration Authority (NIRA), Registrar General’s Department (RGD), and the National Land Agency (NLA).

These sessions provide valuable information to support the JPs in carrying out their legal and administrative duties.

The event also included the election of new officers for the Westmoreland Justices of the Peace Association to further strengthen the organisational framework for JPs in the parish.