Police report increase in contract killings

Jovan Johnson, Parliamentary Reporter

The police high command is reporting an increase in the number of contract killings.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Ealan Powell, the trend has been increasing "year by year".

He made the disclosure at a press conference underway at the Office of the Police Commissioner on Old Hope Road in St Andrew, but did not provide statistics to support his claim.

However, the senior policeman said the increasing number of contract killings may be linked to a proliferation of guns.

"There is no fear in using guns," he said.

"Persons who we believe are upright law-abiding [citizens] are ordering people to kill because of minor issues," ACP Powell told journalists.

Some of the issues stemmed from insurance and land disputes.