THE government is pressing ahead with legislation aimed at tightening its grip on violent crime, citing sharp reductions in homicides and woundings following recent security measures, as Parliament prepares to address the legislative agenda in the coming weeks.

Attorney General John Jeremie, speaking at a UNC media briefing on January 14 on the parliamentary schedule, said the administration intends to advance the Special Zones of Operations Bill, designed to target crime “hot spots” without resorting to a nationwide state of emergency (SoE).

He said the policy builds on lessons learnt during the SoE when authorities disrupted communication channels between incarcerated gang leaders and criminal networks operating outside prison walls.