National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang has rejected suggestions that the country’s security forces should negotiate with criminals as a way of addressing crime and violence.

Some stakeholders made the recommendation in the wake of an upsurge in crime and violence in the country.

Since the start of the year, there have been 634 murders, which represent a 5.3% increase in comparison to last year.

Speaking with reporters during a tour of the police’s Criminal Records Office in Downtown Kingston this morning (June 9), Dr. Chang noted that negotiating with criminals is not an option.