Hanover on lookout for criminals fleeing ZOSO

Commanding officer of the Hanover Police Division, Deputy Superintendent Sharon Beeput, said criminals fleeing the Mt Salem zone of special operations (ZOSO) will find no hiding place in her parish.

"We have our border blocks in place and also our operational team, which goes into the

communities, and we advise the citizens to be on the lookout for strange persons and report same to the police," Beeput told Western Star.

Mt Salem was declared the first ZOSO two weeks ago as the government seeks to arrest a crippling crime rate on the island.

Major Basil Jarrett of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has said that many criminals who live in the community have fled. Since the operations began, the security forces have recovered four guns, among them an AK-47 rifle with one magazine and five live rounds. A 9mm pistol and two home-made guns were also found.

Mindful that displaced criminals are now in search of places to hide, Beeput said residents of Hanover have been advised to be on the lookout for strange men.

Meanwhile, Beeput also said the Hanover police are working with several agencies to undertake social interventions in communities within the parish.

SPECIAL PREPARATIONS

"We had 20 Neighbourhood Watch groups before and of that, only two are active now, and we are trying to reactivate the dormant ones, two by two. Kendal and Pell River are the two we are focusing on now, after which we will move on to two more," she stated.

Beeput also expressed confidence that the crime statistics within the parish will decline by the end of the year, when compared with 2016. She said that with several of the parish's most wanted criminals either in custody or killed in confrontation with the police, residents are feeling much safer.

"We are looking forward to the ending of the year, as we go into the yuletide season and as we put special preparations in place to contain criminal activities; and we are hoping to get a reduction in crimes by the end of the year, compared with last year," she said.

"I am getting the full support of all the police personnel attached to this division and they are highly motivated," she told Western Star. "I am getting the results and the people in the communities are pleased with the work the police are doing, and as such, the communication levels are on the increase."