Security Forces Have Dismantled Many Gangs – PM

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the security forces have made significant inroads in dismantling many gangs.

“We started out with almost 600 gangs, and we have eroded them down to 150 active gangs, and we keep eroding them,” he said.

Dr. Holness was addressing journalists during his visit to Pleasant Heights, Rockfort, in Kingston, on Tuesday (October 22).

There was a mass shooting at a football match in the community on National Heroes Day (October 21), which resulted in the death of five persons.

The Prime Minister said in the last eight years, the Government has significantly increased the national security budget to enhance crime-fighting efforts.

“We have spent more money on national security than had been spent in the last 30 years, equipping the Force, bringing in technology, changing practices and procedures, improving leadership… in addition to investing in infrastructure, so we are making all the right steps in provisioning our security forces,” Mr. Holness said.

The Prime Minister said the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) “have started to restructure our operations to deal with this threat of organised, armed criminal violence”.

He noted that use of the Anti-Gang legislation has also been instrumental in eroding gang activities.

However, he emphasised that citizens have an important role to play.

“We are constantly eroding the gangs as much as we can, but we cannot wait until we have put together an entire case around a gang. Society needs to now ensure that the criminals are separated from the community, so that the police can deal with them effectively,” the Prime Minister said.

Provisions under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) (Amendment) Act, 2021, commonly called the Anti- Gang legislation, allow for the prosecution of groups engaged in criminal activities.