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With three persons being killed and 21 others being injured in gun attacks at weekend parties that were held in breach of COVID-19 regulations, senior cops have admitted it is hard to monitor all the spaces where these events are being held.

Last Friday, 11 persons were shot, one fatally, at a party in Old Braeton, Portmore, while on Sunday, 13 persons were shot, two fatally, at an event in Whitehouse, Westmoreland.

Superintendent Robert Gordon, commanding officer for the Westmoreland Division, revealed that many persons have been breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act.

"Within the past six weeks, we have had over 36 prosecutions and over 70 warnings because persons continue to have mass gatherings," he said, noting that it was a challenge for police to detect Sunday's incident.

"The men were in a bar locked up and it was raining too so we wouldn't expect persons to be out especially during such a time. The police never had any reason to believe that there was a gathering inside the bar because there were no signs," he said.

Minimal resources

Gordon also said that it has been a task for the officers to ensure persons are following protocols due to minimal resources.

"To split the resources sometimes becomes challenging because there is never enough officers even before COVID. But we just have to make it work. We have knowledge of some likely spots so we target them from early to make sure nothing is happening," he told THE STAR.

Commanding officer of the St Catherine South Police Division, Senior Superintendent Clive Blair, revealed that on numerous occasions, like last Friday, the police have no clue that events are in full force. He is, however, promising action to curtail further events.

"I won't speak on the plans we have to discover parties that are being held because I don't want persons out in society to be on alert," said Blair.

Both lawmen urged citizens to abstain from mass gathering for their own safety.