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| British tourists warned to 'stay in resorts' in Jamaica security emergency | British tourists warned to 'stay in resorts' in Jamaica security emergency |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| British tourists are being warned they should stay inside their resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica. | British tourists are being warned they should stay inside their resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica. |
| The Jamaican government has declared a state of emergency in the St James parish, after a number of "shooting incidents". | The Jamaican government has declared a state of emergency in the St James parish, after a number of "shooting incidents". |
| The Foreign Office has told British tourists to stay in the confines of their hotels as a "major military operation" takes place. | The Foreign Office has told British tourists to stay in the confines of their hotels as a "major military operation" takes place. |
| About 200,000 British tourists visit Jamaica every year. | |
| A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "[Tourists] should follow local advice including restrictions in selected areas, and exercise particular care if travelling at night. | A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "[Tourists] should follow local advice including restrictions in selected areas, and exercise particular care if travelling at night. |
| "[They] should stay in their resorts and limit travel beyond their respective security perimeters." | "[They] should stay in their resorts and limit travel beyond their respective security perimeters." |
| On Thursday the country's prime minister, Andrew Holness, said the state of emergency was "necessary" in order to "restore public safety" in the St James area. | On Thursday the country's prime minister, Andrew Holness, said the state of emergency was "necessary" in order to "restore public safety" in the St James area. |
| Chief of defence Major General Rocky Meade said: "We ask that you cooperate with the troops. | Chief of defence Major General Rocky Meade said: "We ask that you cooperate with the troops. |
| "The troops have been refreshed in their training of human rights and how to engage with citizens." | "The troops have been refreshed in their training of human rights and how to engage with citizens." |
| Simon Calder, the Independent's travel editor, said gang crime in the area had been "intensifying". | |
| He told Radio 5 Live: "Last year there were an average of six killings a week - and since the start of the year it has got even worse." | |
| Jamaican newspaper the Gleaner reported that there were 335 murders in the St James parish in 2017. | |
| It also estimated there had been 38 killings across the country in the first six days of 2018, compared with 23 over the same period last year. | |
| As the UK Foreign Office has not warned against travel to Jamaica, Mr Calder said holiday firms have no obligation to offer customers alternative destinations. | |
| He added: "I've never seen Foreign Office advice quite like this before. Normally the UK government says either 'it's OK' or 'don't go'." | |
| Are you in Montego Bay? Have you been affected by recent events? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Montego Bay? Have you been affected by recent events? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |