New Year's Message - 2011: Renewed focus on violence reduction

New Year's Message from the Commissioner of Police:

The year 2010 drew to a close with notable progress in our policing efforts. Progress which could not have been made without strong policy support from the civilian authorities; valuable tactical and operational support from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and new levels of co-operation and approval from the public. For all of this, we are grateful.

We have seen significant reduction in several major crime categories and the divisional plans completed by commanders, which were recently presented to the Police High Command, project further crime reduction targets for 2011.

For our part at the leadership level, we have outlined several strategic priorities which include reduction in serious crimes such as murder and restoration of public confidence in the organisation. We are committed to these objectives and are very pleased to note that all divisional and formation plans reflect these priorities in a very practical sense.

As commissioner of police, I have repeatedly stated that my assessment of the abnormal level of criminal violence in Jamaica is that it is deeply rooted in organised crime and criminal gang activities.

I am convinced that crimes-for-profit committed by gangs, such as drug trafficking, gun running, money laundering, extortion, auto theft, armed robbery and operation of major fraud rings are the primary activities which generate conflicts among criminal gangs resulting in the high murder toll.

Further reduction needed

With over 1,600 Jamaicans murdered in 2009 and a similar number of civilians surviving non-fatal gunshot injuries, our violence index places us among the most violent nations on Earth. We have been told through the findings of documented studies that our levels of violence are holding back economic development and degrading the quality of life of our citizens. It has been suggested that Jamaica needs to reduce homicide rate to around eight per 100,000 of the population (comparable to Costa Rica) in order to achieve the annual GDP growth rate necessary to significantly improve the quality of life here.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) takes its responsibility in reducing the murder toll seriously.

During 2011, we will demonstrate to our country and people how serious we are in curtailing criminal activities. We will pay attention to everything, but focus especially on violence reduction. In this regard, we will intensify our assault on organised crime through an expanded counter-gang strategy which will seek to disrupt, defeat, degrade the capabilities of and deny organised crime the freedom to operate in a manner which they previously enjoyed. We must focus on occupying the streets and public spaces, arresting criminals with evidence such as guns, ammu-nitions, stolen commodities and vehicles.

Intensify strategies

Crime pattern analyses have shown that most shootings, murders and armed robberies are committed by small groups of men travelling on foot in public spaces, and that over 80 per cent of arrests for guns and drugs are effected during stop and search activities. We must intensify these activities. Our strategy must be clearly reflected in the daily work programme and briefings of sub-ordinates, ensuring that their activities are focused on our priorities.

Each territorial division must follow through on its objective of identifying profiling and launching counter-action against the three most active gangs in their domain with the aim of significantly disrupting their activities if not completely demolishing them by March 31. The idea is to resolve a primary concern of law enforce-ment, which is the "presence and operation of a gang in any community undermines its security and confidence".

Criminals use their ill-gotten resources to acquire guns which they then use to escalate violence, intimidate, enforce extortion rackets and a code of silence among victims in vulnerable communities. They also promote and finance anti-social behaviour which makes a mockery of our traditional values of hard work, gentleness, moderation, care for the vulnerable, respect for each other and authority . We will ensure that they are stripped of assets by opening a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) file on every person arrested and charged with a serious gang or drug related crime. The POCA experts at OCID have been asked to ensure each division is fully supported in applying this legislation.

Our anti-corruption drive and efforts at restoring discipline and professionalism to the JCF continues to be crucial to our success in crime fighting. Organised crime requires facilitation from corrupt public officials, especially in law enforcement.

We have taken a firm stand against any nexus between organised crime and law enforcement. By purging the force of corrupt and undisciplined members, we are denying criminals access to our information, methods and resources, thus, undermining their abilities to operate with freedom, while at the same time, raising the rate of detection.

The net result of this is that we are getting better at our jobs. We took close to 900 illegal guns and 35,000 rounds of ammunition off our streets in 2010 and arrested 8,000 more persons for crimes during the period than we did in 2009.

This year, we will aim for greater achievements as we shift the balance of support against organised crime in favour of effective law enforcement and service to our communities.

Colleagues, the outlook is favourable, if we can only believe in what we are sworn to do. All we achieved during 2010 were done with capabilities that still reside within the organisation. We approach 2011 as a stronger more unified force against organised crime and lawlessness. Let us do it for our country and people.\