ZOSOs and SOEs have reduced crime: Senator Hill

Senator Aubyn Hill says the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) and States of Public Emergency (SOEs) have contributed to a reduction in crime within the last year.

Contributing to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (February 8), Senator Hill said “hundreds of lives have been saved” as a result of the security operations.

“ZOSOs and SOEs have reduced murders by 70 per cent in St. James; 44.4 per cent in Central Kingston; and 26.8 per cent in St. Catherine North… and overall by 21.7 per cent islandwide (for January 1 to December 1, 2018). Other islandwide figures showed that shootings were reduced by 21.4 per cent; rape dropped by 12.2 per cent; and aggravated assault fell by 11.8 per cent,” he noted.

Senator Kerensia Morrison, in her contribution, pointed to the need for increased partnerships in the fight against crime.

“I use this platform to urge Jamaicans to respect the authority of the police. I urge Jamaicans to comply with a lawful order… I am concerned that we are becoming too comfortable with crime, almost as if crime is a resident. This Administration is not comfortable [with crime],” she said.

She added, “I am in support of any method that is going to break the back of rampant criminality.”

Jamaica’s first ZOSO was established for Mount Salem in St. James on September 1, 2017, with another declared for Denham Town in October 2017.

The SOEs operated in St Catherine North from March 18, 2018 to January 2, 2019; Kingston West, Kingston Central and St. Andrew South from September 23, 2018 to January 7, 2019; and St. James from January 18, 2018 to January 31, 2019.