St Catherine North Police Division now under SOE

State of Public Emergency (SOE) has been declared by the government in the St Catherine North Police Division as of today.

The Office of the Prime Minister indicated that the police division, especially Spanish Town and surrounding areas, remains volatile following last week's unrest.

As a result, the security forces have requested immediate intervention to address the escalating threat to public safety and prevent further destabilisation.

The boundaries of the security measure are:

East: Starting in the vicinity of Windsor Castle and Carron Hall and extending south-easterly along the common boundary for the parishes of St Catherine, St Mary, and then St Andrew to Rock Hall.

South: Hence generally in a south-westerly direction for approximately 33km at a bearing of approximately 219 degrees to where the communities of Cromarty, Bushy Park and Old Harbour Road meet. Continuing in a northerly direction for approximately 5km to the P.J. Patterson Highway. Thence extending generally in a north-westerly direction for approximately 19km at a bearing of approximately 307 degrees to where the communities of Old Harbour, Rock River and Bellas Gate meet.

West: Continuing in a northerly direction along the common boundary between the parishes of St Catherine and Clarendon to where the parish boundaries of Clarendon, St Catherine and St Ann meet.

North: Thence generally easterly along the shared boundary of the parishes of St Catherine, St Ann and then St Mary, back to the starting point.

The Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff are appealing to the public for their full cooperation as the security forces intensify their operations and protect the lives and livelihoods of all law-abiding residents.

The Government says it will continue to implement policies and programmes to build a peaceful Jamaica, providing a safe and secure environment for its citizens.

Today's declaration follows last week's imposition of a similar SOE in St Andrew South, St Andrew Central, Kingston Western, St Catherine South police divisions.

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