Area Two police record reduction in crime
Published:Wednesday | March 26, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER of police in charge of Area Two, Ealan Powell, has hailed the reduced crime statistics in the area as good showing by the crime fighters in the three parishes, St Ann, St Mary and Portland.
Speaking with The Gleaner on Monday, Powell said compared to last year, the first three months of 2014 has seen a 37 per cent decrease in murders and an overall seven per cent decrease.
"That I believe is a very good showing, we have seven less murders than we had last year," Powell said.
He added: "We have to date, a seven per cent decrease in crime generally, except for shooting, which is seeing a very marginal increase and that is because of some activities in St Ann, which we are working hard to curtail right now. We're also seeing some increases in larceny."
Powell said the police are monitoring on a daily basis what is happening in the various divisions. A meeting was held Monday morning to look at how to deal with a recent increase in shootings in St Ann and, according to Powell, a plan is to be implemented to deal with it.
The Area Two boss said residents in the three parishes that make up the Area Two police division should see less criminal activities this year.
"We have been for a long time the least violent area in the country," he said.
"Last year, it remained that way, and this year, we're saying it will be even less violent. We are working to reduce the crime and the fear of crime in the three parishes, and we are determined it will happen."