Itinerant criminals represent major threat
Published:Friday | May 29, 2015 | 12:00 AMShanique Samuels
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
Clarendon has been on the radar of the Ministry of National Security since the start of the year because of a spike in major crimes in the parish.
Carol McKenzie, superintendent in charge of operations for the Clarendon division, says itinerant criminals represent a major threat to law enforcement in the parish.
"People have a right to travel, and we can't pass a legislation to say that they cannot travel, but what we can do is put in policing strategies that will affect them," McKenzie said.
He said road blocks and spot checks are used by the police to intercept criminals who seek to enter or move about in the parish.
"It will give them something to fear, and sometimes they will think twice before travelling to commit crimes," the senior officer said of the strategy.
EXERCISE VIGILANCE
In addition to policing strategies, McKenzie said it is critical that residents be vigilant and take their safety seriously. He said an essential element is community policing.
"We have to go the route of community policing where we encourage residents to be alert and look out for strange persons in their communities and alert the police to suspicious activities when the need arises," he said.