Islington Area Residents Meet Police Pointing to Business Loss and Ask for Reduced Curfew Time
ISLINGTON, St Mary; Oct. 10, 2026
After weeks of a curfew in their area, residents of communities in and around Islington in St Mary have been pushing back, citing reduced business and social activity.
But the cries of residents do not seem to have had any effect on the police. The curfew in the Islington area was extended on Thursday, October 8, for another 48 hours, as it has been since first imposed on September 10.
A curfew has also been running in the Retreat area of W St Mary for nearly two weeks and has been renewed every other day for 48 hours.
Area residents of Islington communities, including Sports Road, Nuttsfield, Friendship, Robin’s Bay and Strawberry Fields, among others, met with police personnel on Thursday, October 1, 2026, to voice their concerns over the ongoing curfew.
The meeting, which was tense at times, saw residents strongly expressing the view that the rolling curfew has stagnated business and social activities in the community.
Shop owners and small business operators told the police that with the curfew starting at 6:00 pm, they are forced to close early, resulting in significant loss of income and hardship for families who depend on daily sales.
“The community is suffering. We understand crime must be controlled, but we also have to eat,” one resident told the meeting.
In response, the police explained that it has become necessary to continue the security measure in order to curb a spike in reprisals following the recent killings in the community. On September 9, three men were shot dead in a bar in Strawberry Fields. Police imposed a curfew the following day covering that and adjoining areas. That curfew continues.
At the meeting, law enforcement officials said the curfew was a tool to prevent further bloodshed and to allow the police to carry out operations to improve security.
However, residents implored the police to consider adjusting the hours of the curfew, even if the security measure had to be continued.
Residents made a direct appeal for the curfew time to be pushed back from 6 pm to 8 pm, arguing that an additional two hours would allow businesses to operate more viably while still giving the police control of the area at night.
The police reportedly noted the concerns and promised to relay the request to their superiors for consideration.
