SOEs declared in four police divisions amid uptick in gang violence

By Racquel Porter/Clinton McGregor   

  

Amid growing gang conflicts in sections of the Corporate Area and St. Catherine, the government on Wednesday declared States of Public Emergency in the St. Andrew South, St. Andrew Central, Kingston Western, St. Catherine South police divisions.

 

A statement from the Office the Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon said the declaration follows a significant increase in violent criminal activities within these areas.

 

These locations have been identified as hotspots for gang-related warfare which pose risks to public safety of residents as well as commuters and bystanders given their use as public thoroughfares.

 

According to the OPM, an intelligence assessment has revealed that violence and criminal activity in these communities have reached a level beyond what standard policing strategies can manage to effectively restore stability and public order.

 

It said the government will continue addressing the underlying factors that fuel violence in these areas. 

 

Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Phipps, Commander of the Area Four Police Headquarters, has welcomed the declaration of the SOEs in the three divisions under his command.

 

He said there has been an uptick in gang conflicts, murders and shootings in the Corporate Area, particularly in the St. Andrew South Division, and this is of major concern to the Police High Command.

 

"We have seen these divisions showing an uptick in reported murders since the start of January 2025 and have recorded so far this year 22 murders up from eight for the corresponding period of 2024. The St. Andrew South Division [has] seen a 1000 percentage increase in reported murders over the corresponding period of 2024. We will be using these measures to treat effectively with these very hotspot areas which are known for gang warfare which poses public safety risk to especially our law abiding citizens who have to traverse these areas," acting ACP Phipps pledged. 

 

He called for residents in the volatile communities listed under the SOEs to give "full support" to members of the security forces during their crackdown on the gangs and effort to restore stability and public order. 

 

"I want to use this opportunity as well to ask persons with ill intent not to, in any way, shape, or form, try to resist us if we come to arrest them. We at all times urge peaceful surrender, however, we will be decisive in protecting ourselves from all threat forces," he warned.