Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging mothers to help dissuade their sons from engaging in criminal activities.

He says the harsh reality must be confronted, that crime and violence continue to plague the society and that too many young men are being drawn into a life of crime.

Mr Holness states that more than 90 percent of crimes are committed by men, and that 90 percent of the victims of crime, particularly murder, are men.

He points out that there is a problem with men and boys in the society, and women who can influence them, have a critical role to play.

The prime minister is calling on women to encourage male relatives involved in criminality to give up the life style before it’s too late.