Click to view full size

ATTORNEY General John Jeremie said the government has achieved a 42 per cent drop in serious crime in just its nine months in office and was not now going backwards in its fight against crime.

At the House of Representatives sitting, which began on January 16 and ended at 3.38 am the following day, he gave background details to justify why he was piloting the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operation)(Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill 2026. When the extended state of emergency expires on January 31, this new bill will allow the Prime Minister, with Parliament’s nod, to declare certain special zones where the police and defence force will have extra powers of search, seizure and arrest.

The bill was ultimately passed but without opposition support.