A limited state of emergency has been imposed by the Government in St James.

According to reports, a major military operation is now under way in the entire parish.

The details of the operation are not immediately available however Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers are visible stopping and searching motor vehicles at various points in the parish where 335 murders were recorded last year, that’s 67 more than reported in 2016.

On Wednesday Prime Minister Andrew Holness signalled that the Government intended to take firm and resolute measures to tackle the country’s crime problem. He declined to elaborate, but his press secretary Naomi Francis said an announcement would be made in a matter of days.