Zone of Special Operations law now in effect

The much-touted Zones of  Special Operations Act is now in effect.

 

News came on Wednesday night that Minister of  Information, Senator Ruel Reid received a copy of the Jamaica Gazette earlier in the day indicating that the legislation is in place.

 

It was tabled in the House of  Representatives on March 21 and passed in the Senate on July 7 after 13 amendments.

 

The law gives the Prime Minister, on the advice of the National Security Council, the authority to declare any high crime area of  Jamaica a zone for special security operations and community development measures.

 

The law is part of a national security strategy that targets strategic subject areas: Violence and Crime, Public Order, Corruption, Community Safety, Territorial Integrity, Crisis Response and Resilience.The other areas are Justice, Cyber Defence, Critical Infrastructure Protection and Economic Security.

                                                         

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrew Holness will chair a meeting of the National Security Council at Jamaica House on Thursday morning. Among the issues to be discussed are the Zones of  Special Operations and the wearing of body cameras by members of the security forces.

 

News came on Wednesday that $2.6 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of  National Security to provide additional resources to the police and military for Zones of  Special Operations.