Fleeing scammers left security forces bored

Police and soldiers who were deployed to Norwood, St James, to work in the zone of special operations (ZOSO) complained of having very little to do after scammers fled the community and took up residence elsewhere.

The revelation was made by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang as he sought approval from the House of Representatives for a further extension of the seven ZOSOs that have been declared on the island.

"I have a zone in my area, and after three months ... there was a general movement of the threats in the area. They moved out," said Chang, who is the member of parliament for the tough St James North West constituency.

A ZOSO was declared in Norwood in June 2021. At the time of the declaration, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the area "continues to be characterised by increased gang-related violence and criminal activities."

Chang yesterday said that the source of criminal activities in the community is different from the Corporate Area.

"Most of them [criminals] are involved in advance credit fraud, so they have money. They just moved out. They rent houses, went elsewhere. Some of them actually acquired property and there was absolute quiet in the community. The security men started to complain [that] they have nothing the do," Chang said.

The minister was responding to a suggestion from Opposition Leader Mark Golding for the members of the security forces to conduct more patrols in the space. According to Golding, there are instances where criminal acts are committed in close proximity to security checkpoints. He pointed, for example, at Denham Town in Kingston where a ZOSO was declared in October 2017, and noted that the community has constantly been rocked by murders and shootings. He said that people have complained that police and soldiers sit at a checkpoint for hours and little attention is being paid to what may be taking place in nearby areas.

"I am expecting better results in Denham Town," said Golding. "Why do we not have more patrols on an ongoing basis?"

Chang said the security chiefs are very aware and are moving to improve that and expand the level of dynamic activity emerging from the area.

More than $450 million has been spent in Denham Town under the ZOSO. Another $300 million has been approved for spending in Norwood over the next 12-24 months.

ZOSOs have been declared in Mount Salem, Denham Town, Greenwich Town, August Town, Norwood, Parade Gardens and Savanna-la-Mar.