Major crimes down in Manchester, St Bess, Clarendon – ACP Allen

There has been a 17 per cent reduction in major crimes across the Area 3 police network, which comprises Manchester, St Elizabeth and Clarendon.

According to head of the Area 3 network, Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Calvin Allen, while Manchester has seen some uptick in murders over recent weeks, overall major crimes are still down in the parish so far this year.

The ACP made the disclosures at a town hall meeting on Thursday at Church Teachers' College in Mandeville, Manchester.

For the Area 3 network, murders are down 15 per cent, or 22 fewer cases when compared to the same period last year, Allen reported.

Clarendon, in particular, has seen a significant drop of 34 fewer murders so far this year.

The overall improvement comes after the devastating mass shooting incident in Cherry Tree Lane in Four Paths on August 11, which claimed eight lives, including that of eight-year-old Aiden Bartley, and left nine other persons injured.

Two suspects have since been charged with offences relative to the incident, while two others were killed in confrontations with law enforcers.

"Clarendon in itself is seeing 34 less murders in comparison to this time last year, and it is crucial that we mention Clarendon, and you know why? Cherry Tree Lane in focus," Allen said.

On Thursday night, the senior lawman pointed to the progress being made to curtail violent crimes in Manchester, where a double murder at Mandeville Market and other separate killings earlier this month, resulted in several curfews being implemented in several communities in the parish.

"The Manchester (Police) Division, which is in focus, has seen a recent flare-up of murders, and when we delved deeper into our analysis, we're seeing where interpersonal issues are one of the main factors (causing the flare-up).

"But can I tell you; Manchester is seeing a 17 per cent overall reduction in major crimes," Allen declared.

He praised the clear-up rate for crime in Manchester, citing a 76 per cent rate, making it the leading police division island-wide with that rate.

"The Manchester (Police) Division, although you've seen this (flare-up in murders), is recording a 76 per cent... in terms of clear-up (of crimes). In fact, it is the leading division across the island (in that regard).

"In other words then, whilst we seek to prevent (crime) in all respect, where we are not able to prevent, you're seeing clearly that we are doing everything towards solving (the crimes)," Allen indicated.

"So, this is a clear message to those who seek to perpetrate violence, that we are coming after you!" he warned.

Meanwhile, Allen emphasised that most crimes in the Area 3 network are being perpetrated by imported criminals, prompting the police to implement cordons, searches and curfews to curtail the situation.