Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, says the high level of crime in St James, led to the imposition of a State of Public Emergency in the division.

He was speaking at a post cabinet press briefing on Wednesday morning.

Major General Anderson states that 167 murders have been recorded in the parish as at Monday.

He explains that the SOE will aim to disrupt gangs, noting that 180 illegal guns have been seized in the parish as at Monday.

Commissioner Anderson says the SOEs have been effective in the past.