States of Public Emergency (SOE) have been declared across the entire parishes of Hanover, St James St Catherine, and Clarendon, in response to the alarming levels of crime in the parishes.

The SOEs will initially last for 14 days, commencing on Thursday, November 23.

Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson disclosed that the Clarendon Police Division recorded 99 murders this year, the fifth-highest among all police divisions. This marks a 14 per cent increase when compared to the same period in 2022.

“Clarendon and St Catherine, being adjoining parishes, intensify our concerns, accounting for 24 per cent of the nation’s murders since the beginning of the year. In the St James Police Division, the highest number of murders across all divisions was recorded, totalling 169 from January 1 to November 15, 2023. This division also experienced the highest number of shooting incidents, totaling 101 during the same period,” the police chief explained.

He added that the location of St James and Hanover adjacent each other exacerbates the situation, with both parishes accounting for 20 per cent of the nation’s murders since the start of the year.

Dr Horace Chang, minister of national security, says the declaration represents a united stand against crime.

“We call on citizens nationwide to back these efforts. Together, as a nation, we can triumph over these criminal elements,” he emphasised.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness also stressed the vital role of community cooperation in cauterizsing crime.

“The cooperation of every Jamaican is essential. We must unite to ensure our nation’s safety. These measures are temporary but critical in augmenting the efforts of our security forces, which have yielded significant results. The government continues to invest in enhancing our nation’s security infrastructure,” he stated.

“The SOEs enable the security forces, including the JDF, to conduct targeted operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and curbing murders. The government assures the public that the safety and security of all Jamaicans remain its highest priority.”