As crime and violence continue to flare up within the Southern Crescent of the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR), a decision on whether to expand security measures in the area has now become of top priority.

The matter was high on the agenda at Thursday’s (July 29) regular monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, as the Government sought to reiterate its commitment to implementing the necessary measures as a critical enabler for the security forces to take deliberate actions to address crime and violence within the affected communities.

During the meeting, Holness asserted that the security measures in the Southern crescent are being reviewed with a view to implementing additional security interventions to restore order and bring what appears to be an ongoing violent gang feud under control, as a matter of urgency.

In the meantime, the Police Commissioner and the Chief of Defence Staff expressed that the continued operational joint-security partnership between the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) continues to yield successes in its internal security operations islandwide.

Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson informed the Council that additional technological tools have been added to the JCF’s crime-fighting apparatus which give better situational awareness, command and control. He also updated the Council on the continued rollout of the quick response teams in the corporate area.

Other operational updates were received from the Jamaica Defence Force and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) with the Council being informed of advances being made in cyber defence as well as in combating lottery scamming.

The Agency informed the Council that 117 cases are currently before the courts and that they have secured 11 convictions since the start of the year.

In closing, Holness, speaking in his capacity as chairman, said all Jamaicans should abide by the infection prevention and control protocols even as the country increases its vaccination levels and contemplates further tightening of the control measures.