States of public emergency have been declared in four police divisions.

The enhanced security measures have been declared in St Andrew South, St Andrew Central, Kingston Western and St Catherine South.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Office of the Prime Minister, OPM, says the declarations follow a significant increase in violent criminal activities within the designated areas.

According to the OPM, the locations have been identified as hotspots for gang-related conflicts, posing public safety risks to residents, commuters and bystanders.

Read the full statement.

STATE OF PUBLIC EMERGENCY DECLARED IN ST ANDREW SOUTH, ST ANDREW CENTRAL, KINGSTON WESTERN, ST CATHERINE SOUTH POLICE DIVISIONS

His Excellency, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica, in consultation with the security forces, has declared a State of Public Emergency for the geographical area comprising the following police divisions: St. Andrew South, St Andrew Central, Kingston Western, St Catherine South.

This declaration follows a significant increase in violent criminal activities within these areas. These locations have been identified as hotspots for gang-related warfare which poses public safety risks to residents as well as commuters and bystanders given their use as public thoroughfares.

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

By declaring a State of Public Emergency, enhanced security tactics will enable our security forces to disrupt criminal networks, apprehend offenders, and foster conditions for lasting peace. These actions will be carried out with full respect for constitutional safeguards and the protection of citizens’ rights.

In addition, the Government of Jamaica will continue addressing the underlying factors that fuel violence in these areas. This will involve working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that social intervention programs accompany security measures, delivering long-term solutions to the social and economic challenges faced by residents.

  • The boundaries of the State of Public Emergency in the St Andrew South Police Division are defined as follows:

East: Starting at the foot of Red Hills at the intersection of Perkins Boulevard, Molynes Road and Red Hills Road, extending in a south-south-easterly direction along Molynes Road then onto Seaward Drive, Mimosa Road, Aloe Ave, Bay Farm Road, Newark Avenue, Elm Crescent, Keesing Avenue, Hagley Park Road, Omara Road, and Chisolm. Avenue to the point of intersection with Maxfield Avenue.

South: Extending in a south-westerly direction from the intersection of Chisolm Avenue and Maxfield Avenue, along Maxfield Avenue onto East Avenue to the coastline in the vicinity of Petrojam and extending along the said coastline in the vicinity of the Kingston Container Terminal to the Portmore Causeway Bridge.

West: Continuing in a north-westerly direction from the Portmore Causeway Bridge along the Fresh River and the shared parish border of St Andrew and St Catherine to the west of Riverton, and extending to the vicinity of the western most end of the Belvedere to Ferry secondary road.

North: Extending in an easterly direction along the Belvedere to Ferry Road to the foot of Red Hills at the intersection of Perkins Boulevard, Molynes Road and Red Hills Road, the start point.

  • The boundaries of the State of Public Emergency in the St Andrew Central Police Division are defined as follows:

East: Starting at point southeast of the Derby Peak in Constitution Hill, trending along an imaginary line in a South-easterly direction to the bridge across the Cane River in the community of Bito.

South: Extending in a north-westerly direction from the bridge across the Cane River in the community of Bito along an imaginary line that trends across the Dallas Mountains to the bridge in August Town that spans the small gulley way leading to the Hope River, along an imaginary line that trends across the Long Mountain to the intersection of Deanery Road and Mountain View Avenue, along Diana Drive leading to Vineyard Road, unto Camp Road leading to Dames Drive and Connolly Avenue, then leading to Heros Circle and next unto Slipe Road, west along Studio One Boulevard, next along Lyndhurst Road leading to the intersection with Rousseau Road, lastly along Rousseau Road leading to intersection with Maxfield Avenue.

West: Continuing in a north-westerly direction along Maxfield Avenue from the intersection with Rousseau Road then northwest along Chisolm Avenue to the intersection. With Omara Road, North west along Omara Road to the intersection with Hagley Park Road, then Southwest along Hagley Park Road to the intersection with Keesing Avenue, northwest along Keesing Avenue (which includes a section of Elm Crescent) to the intersection with Waltham Park Road, northeast along Waltham Park Road then west unto Bay Farm Road, northeast along Aloe Avenue to the intersection with Mimosa Road, then west along Mimosa Road to Seaward Drive leading to Molynes Road, then north along Molynes Road to the intersection with Washington Boulevard.

North: Extending in an easterly direction along Washington Boulevard to the intersection with East Kings House Road, then north-easterly leading to Barbican Road, along Jacks Hill Road to the intersection with Sunset Avenue, then along an imaginary line trending easterly to Skyline Drive to the intersection with the Gordon Town main road then along an imaginary line trending easterly and terminating at point southeast of the Derby Peak in Constitution Hill.

  • The boundaries of the State of Public Emergency in the Kingston Western Police Division are defined as follows:

North: The northern boundary will start at the intersection of Maxfield Avenue and Rousseau Road and then extend in an easterly direction to the intersection of Rousseau Road and Lyndhurst Road. The boundary will then continue in a south-easterly direction along Lyndhurst Road, then Brentford Road to its intersection with Slipe Road.

East: The eastern boundary continues in a southerly direction along Slipe Road, Orange Street, North Street and then onto Princess Street. The boundary continues south along Princess Street, then onto West Queen Street, West Street, Harbour Street, Pechon Street and then Ocean Boulevard, to the coast.

South: The southern boundary extends westerly along the coast of Kingston to the vicinity of East Avenue.

West: The western boundary continues in a north-easterly direction across Marcus Garvey Drive onto East Avenue and then Maxfield Avenue to the starting point.

  • The boundaries of the State of Public Emergency in the St Catherine South Police Division are defined as follows:

East: Starting at Rock Hall and extending south-easterly along the common boundary between the parishes of St Catherine and St. Andrew to the coast in the vicinity of the Kingston Container Terminal.

South: Thence generally westerly along the territorial coastline limits of St Catherine to the common boundary between the parishes of St Catherine and Clarendon in the vicinity of the Port Esquivel Airstrip.

West: Continuing in a northerly direction along the common boundary between the parishes of St Catherine and Clarendon to where the communities of Old Harbour, Rock River and Bellas Gate meet.

North: Thence generally south-easterly for approximately 19 km at a bearing of approximately 127 degrees to the P.J. Patterson Highway. Thence extending southerly for approximately 5km to where the communities of Cromarty, Bushy Park and Old Harbour Road meet. Continuing generally in a north-easterly direction for approximately 33 km at a bearing of approximately 40 degrees back to the starting point.

The Government and the security forces will continue to take all necessary actions to protect the safety of residents and restore normalcy.