Prime Minister Andrew Holness has sought to defend his administration’s increased spending on crime fighting tools, such as the states of emergency.

Responding to concern over the cost of the SOES and ZOSOS at a press conference yesterday, the Prime Minister said for many years various administrations did not increase the national security budget and this led to an increase in the murder rate.

The Prime Minister said it is almost illogical to question the increasing national security budget, when the government is increasing the size of the security forces and their resources.

He added that previous governments have used plans that resulted in increased police killings.

Mr. Holness said his administration is laying a blanket strategy, as it relates to the enhanced security measures to keep the geographical problem areas under control, while improving the security force’s capacity.

The Prime Minister further noted that his administration has spent four times the amount of money invested by the previous government on crime over a similar four year period.