A  State of Public Emergency (SOE) has been declared for the parishes of Hanover, St James, and Clarendon.

 Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in making the announcement said the SOE is to run for 14 days commencing 12:01 am on Tuesday.

"Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, acting on the advice of the Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson and the Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, authorised the declaration of the SOEs," a release from the prime minister said.

The police commissioner, speaking on the development, said: "The Clarendon Police Division has witnessed a significant increase in murders and shooting incidents with a 6,736 increase in murders and a 419 increase in shooting incidents as of May 14, compared to the same period last year. This necessitates the declaration of a State of Public Emergency.”

For the St James Division, he reported that "although experiencing a decline in murders by 27 per cent, the parish still had the highest number of murders across all police divisions, with a total of 69 recorded. The division also had the fourth highest number of shooting incidents, with 34 incidents during the same period last year.”

He added: “The Hanover Division witnessed the highest increase in murders, with a 75 per cent rise as of May 14, compared to the same period in 2022.”

Wemyss-Gorman also underscored that “the JDF stands behind the recommendation for the declaration of a State of Public Emergency covering the parishes of Hanover, St James, and Clarendon. We are committed to working closely with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to secure our nation.”