Opposition spokesman on National Security Fitz Jackson has expressed concern over the increasing number of fatal police shootings, despite a reduction in the country’s murder rate last year.

“Last year, 340 more persons were killed by the security forces and the only other year it was higher than that was in 1985… That is unacceptable. We want more of our people to remain alive. We believe in the rule of law,” Jackson said.

Speaking at the Whitfield Town Divisional Conference on Wednesday, he stressed that while progress has been made in reducing murders, greater efforts are needed to strengthen trust and cooperation between citizens and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to improve public safety.