Ellington: Gov't leaders must take a no-nonsense approach towards crime

Former Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington left no stones unturned, as he issued strong words of advice to government leaders last night, admonishing them to be diligent in their approach to crime in Jamaica.    

Ellington says members of the government must tell themselves they have only one chance to get it right. 

The former commissioner hinted that convicted felons should face tougher penalties as he bemoaned the fact that too many criminals are given a slap on the wrist when they are charged with serious crimes

He says it is a practice which has contributed to Jamaica's Spiralling crime rate. 

Ellington says Jamaican criminals are convinced that crime pays.

He says when the trial of someone charged with six murders committed over one weekend in 2006 still hasn't started in 2016, it's difficult to convince criminals otherwise.

Similarly, Ellington says when convicted gun offenders walk out of court with a fine they cannot be convinced that "this is not a free space.”

Meanwhile, the former commissioner also says there is an insatiable demand for illegal guns by criminals in Jamaica.

As a result he says there must be a no-nonsense approach in tackling the monster that continues to plague the country.

The former commissioner says once this is done, the government would be amazed at the how quickly public security and citizen and investor confidence turns around.

Ellington was speaking last night at the Economic Growth and Sustainability Summit at the University of Technology.