A call is being made for stakeholders to support more social intervention programmes, especially aimed at young people, in a bid to steer them away from a life of crime.
Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, made the call while addressing a virtual forum on the states of public emergency, on Wednesday evening.
Westmoreland, which has been dubbed the epicentre of violence, is one of the police divisions now under a State of Public Emergency (SOE).
A few months ago, the Westmoreland police expressed concern about the high number of youth, who are perpetrators of crime, with over 20 in police custody.
Commissioner Anderson revealed that that number has increased to 32.
He said intervention is needed to give the young offenders the proper educational and psychological support.
