Labouring against crime in South St Andrew - Cops seize three guns during Labour Day operations

The men and women of the St Andrew South Police Division used Labour Day to spruce up the divisional headquarters at Hunts Bay, with $4 million in support from ARC Manufacturing Company, before moving into the communities to perform a labour of love to make residents safer.

Working with a team from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the cops staged several operations in the division, which has recorded a spike in crime since the start of the year, and seized three illegal guns and more than 20 rounds of ammunition.

The Labour Day bounty started about 6:30 p.m. when the joint police-military team seized a Ruger pistol with 15 rounds. Hours later, the team moved into Whitfield Town, where a revolver with three rounds was seized.

The team ended its Labour Day activities in Payne Land, where a Tarus 9mm pistol with five rounds was seized. No one was arrested in connection with any of the gun finds.

"This represents a stepping up of the police-military patrols in the division to ensure that there is a reduction in serious crimes and to target the criminals who are making the area unsafe for residents," said Superintendent Gary Francis, who heads the St Andrew South Police Division.

He noted that since the start of this month, the security forces had seized seven illegal guns and 77 rounds of ammunition. Almost 30 illegal guns have been taken from criminals since the start of the year.

"We are determined to take control of the space from the criminals, and I want to thank the men and women under my command who are working to make this happen and the members of the JDF, who are providing invaluable support," said Francis.