There are just a few more days before the year 2020 comes to a close.
A year that will be difficult to forget for a very long time, 2020 was certainly not a normal period of time.
With all of its up and downs, one would not be overstretching to say the year will go down as one of the most memorable in history.
As usual, Loop news in its review, looks back on the year that will ultimately go down as one that significantly changed the way of life for millions across the world.
Below are some of the stories that are considered to have been among the hottest news items over the 12-month period.
The identities of the men now in custody are being withheld, pending further investigations by the police.
According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) via its Facebook page, about 3 am on Monday, a pick-up truck with the men was intercepted by the police during (crime) surge operations in a section of the parish.
Earlier this month, Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, said the police would be embarking on special anti-crime and anti-robbery initiatives to ensure Jamaicans and their properties are kept safe during the Christmas period.
Anderson said he had been made aware of mounting concerns about increases in robberies and thefts, noting that these crimes have been largely committed in public spaces by persons on motorcycles and other persons with the use of motor vehicles.
Two highly rated Jamaican criminologists have thrown cold water on the Government’s latest gun amnesty initiative and are calling for a rethink of the current strategies employed by the security forces, if Jamaica is to see a reduction in serious crimes any time soon.
The national firearm recovery reward programme, ‘Stop the Killing … Get the Guns’, which is being managed by the Ministry of National Security, doles out $150,000 for information leading to the recovery of high-powered rifles and machine guns; $100,000 for automatic or semi-automatic pistols and shotguns; and $75,000 for revolvers.
According to Dennis Brooks, senior communication strategist in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), 560 illegal guns have been recovered across the 19 police divisions between January 1 and November 28, 2020, an 11 per cent decline to the 620 seized over the corresponding period last year.
Two of the men identified as persons of interest in the recent spate of killings in Effortville, Clarendon are now in police custody.
Police report that a total of five persons were shot and killed and three others injured over a 24 hour period between Wednesday and Thursday in the parish.
Following the attacks, one man, identified as a person of interest, turned himself in to the police on Friday December 18. Another person of interest was taken into custody on Saturday December 19.
Earlier this week, Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson ordered increased support to the Clarendon Policing Division in order to quell the flare-up of violence in the community.