.png)
00:00
00:00
00:00
Superintendent Coleridge Minto, Commanding Officer for the St. Elizabeth Police
The St. Elizabeth Police say scammers are fuelling a wave of violence across the parish as they fight over ill-gotten gains.
Commanding Officer Superintendent Coleridge Minto says several people have so far been charged in connection with these illicit activities.
"We continue to pay close attention to activities surrounding that of scamming. Since the start of this year, eight individuals have been charged under the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transaction) (Special Provisions) Act, and... we have a special unit that is called a Proactive Investigation Unit, PIU, that treats specifically with these persons who deal in these activities," he explained.
Superintendent Minto also provided a breakdown of the gains made in reducing major crimes in the parish.
"As of July 9, shootings are down by 46 per cent; robbery is down by 54 per cent; rape, we've seen 13 cases as against 12 last year, an increase by one. Murder is seven versus 18, a reduction of 61 per cent. The latest murder took place the latter part of June at a particular nightclub in Santa Cruz and again that murder took place, coming out of a conflict," he outlined.
Fifteen firearms and 85 rounds of ammunition have been seized in the parish since the start of the year.