Deported sex offenders top police monitor list
Published:Monday | January 27, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Correction and Clarification
In the lead story of yesterday’s Gleaner, comments made by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kevin Blake were incorrectly attributed to ACP Clifford Blake. We regret the error.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer
CRIMINAL DEPORTEES repatriated to Jamaica after serving time for sex offences, especially child molesters, are receiving special attention from the police force along with those with an equally rotten record of violent, serious crimes.
Assistant Police Commissioner Clifford Blake, backed by his Commissioner, Owen Ellington, and other senior members of the police force, told a Gleaner Editors' Forum last week that a well-established monitoring system is in place.
"We have a pretty established system ... of monitoring deportees for various reasons. We work very closely with our international partners in countries from where these criminals come in an effort to help reintegrate them into society, and as a crime-prevention strategy. We also monitor criminals who we consider to be high-risk factors," Blake said in response to a question.
Even as Ellington said the Jamaica Constabulary Force was still short of a full complement of officials, despite the use of the auxiliaries (Island Special Constabulary Force), the organisation's monitoring capabilities are not totally dependent on manpower monitoring.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Jamaica, the United Kingdom and Canada in 2006, changed the conditions under which cellular phone chips were sold by phone companies. Specific identification is now standard for purchase. Details of the MOU were exposed during the commission of enquiry into the now infamous Manatt, Phelps and Phillips investigation, and the subsequent West Kingston police/military operation of 2010, as the enquiry heard how the phones of convicted racketeer Christopher 'Dudus' Coke were monitored by overseas security personnel.
Sex offenders top list
Blake did not give specifics of the monitoring requirement and practices, but said sex offenders sit atop the list of those monitored. The Gleaner was unable to get up-to-date statistics on the number of sex offenders deported in 2013. However, between 2008 and 2012, 244 individuals were deported for sex offences from countries around the world, but mainly from the United States.
At least one person heading to Jamaica in the next five years is a former minister of religion convicted of raping two teenage girls, one, a member of his congregation.
The Jamaica-born rapist was identified as Reverend Michael Clare and under the terms of a plea deal, he will be sentenced to five years in prison.
Clare, a Jamaican, was pastor of the Harvest Worship Centre International in Bronx, New York.