While criminal activities in the tourism areas of St Ann has not increased, crime in the parish’s violent-prone areas have been on the rise.
For that reason, a state of emergency (SOE) was necessary in the garden parish, where tourism is the main economic driver.
The disclosure was made by Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, who sought to explain why St Ann, as well as St Andrew Central Police Division, where crime has generally remained low, were included under the SOEs.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the SOEs for eight parishes at a press conference on Tuesday.
Anderson, who noted that crime has increased in the seven areas included under last month’s SOE, said the measure was necessary to aid the police during the Christmas season.
This as murders and other forms of crime tend to be on the rise during the period.
“With respect to St Ann, intelligence indicates increase criminal activities, not so much in the tourist areas, but in some of the hotspots and interior spaces as migrant criminals attempt to establish themselves in various communities,” Anderson explained.
“We are also detecting associations with criminal networks in other divisions,” he added.
He went on to explain the situation that led to the need for a SOE in the St Andrew Central Police Division.
“St Andrew Central borders all five other policing divisions in Kingston. Intelligence is indicating that the movement of gangsters and illegal guns through, and, in the division, is likely to cause an increase in murders if not addressed, along with the other divisions within the southern crescent [of the island],” stated Anderson.
