‘Much work to do’ - SSP Minto says cops will double efforts in St Elizabeth

The head of the St Elizabeth Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Coleridge Minto, has cautioned against complacency in addressing crime in the parish.

Speaking at a gospel concert in Black River on April 2, held under the theme "Resilience, Rebuild, Rejoice", Minto said: "There have been seven murders so far this year." He noted that this represents an increase of five murders compared to the same period last year, when only two murders were recorded up to March 28.

While national data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) shows a 30 per cent decrease in murders, St Elizabeth has seen a dramatic 250 per cent rise.

"It tells us there is much work to do," Minto said. "In fact, we will have to double our efforts to ensure that those who are committing offences in this parish are held to account," he said.

Highlighting the parish's progress in public safety, he shared that despite numerous challenges, major crime rates fell significantly last year.

"Rape was down 23 per cent. Shooting down 30 per cent, robberies down 50 per cent, and murder, which is life, was down 45 per cent. We recorded 18 murders, the lowest murder rate in over 25 years," he stated.