JAMAICA'S Major Investigation Task Force's (MIT) focused approach to solving gun-related murders is to expand beyond the Corporate Area, starting in Clarendon, St James and St Catherine, Commanding Officer Selvin Hay has disclosed.

"Our number one problem right now is homicide, and if we can get the capability to approach the investigations in a focused way across the island, that would be a great reward to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica," he said.

He said the expansion of the unit would also allow others in the JCF to become exposed to the MIT's type of investigating and, hopefully, adopt some of its principles.

He also expressed optimism that some MIT personnel will be able to go to various police divisions, while personnel from the divisions come into the MIT, and help spread the principle of a focused approach to investigations.

"I know that out there, it is difficult to focus, the way that we do. We are dedicated to investigating murders and the shootings that accompany them, while the detective at the division level has to be looking at all the major crimes - murders, rape, shootings, burglary. So they can't dedicate the time and energy and focus on a particular investigation, as we do," he states.

The MIT is a division of the Serious and Organised Crime Branch of the JCF, which investigates gun-related crimes in Kingston and St Andrew. It also provides support when it is directed to intervene in, collaborating with divisions and operational arms such as the Mobile Reserve.

Explaining the difference between Operation Kingfish and the MIT, Superintendent Hay said that while Kingfish targets major gang leaders, the MIT goes after all gun-related murderers.

In his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate, last month, National Security Minister, Senator Trevor MacMillan, said that the MIT was developing its own community contacts and that it acts independently, where necessary, to reassure and protect vulnerable victims and witnesses.

He said that one of the major indicators of success so far, has been the number of vulnerable witnesses who have come forward with statements where, previously, they may have feared reprisals, or felt that they could not trust the police.

Superintendent Hay said that although the MIT has been in existence since 2006, because of the resource constraints, it could not take on cases en bloc from the start.