Jamaica's prime minister is proposing to let police hold criminal suspects as long as 72 hours without bail as a measure to fight violent crime.

Bruce Golding's amendment to Jamaica's Bail Act would extend the legal detention period by two full days.

Golding says police are reporting increasing numbers of suspects committing crimes shortly after being arrested and released on bail. He did not offer statistics Tuesday evening when he announced the measure in Parliament.

The government has been under pressure to reduce violent crime in this Caribbean nation of 2.8 million. More than 850 people have been killed here this year.

Lawmakers will take up the proposal in coming days.