New anti-crime laws take effect as State of Emergency ends

GOVERNOR General Sir Patrick Allen has signed the six anti-crime bills which were recently passed by the Houses of Parliament, and which will give the security forces additional power in arresting the country's high crime rate, even with the end of the State of Emergency at midnight Thursday.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced Thursday that the six anti-crime bills had received the governor general's assent and were to be gazetted and brought into effect yesterday.

Golding, in an address to the nation Wednesday night, said the anti-crime bills would be among the measures expected to come into effect soon to help the security forces in their crime-fighting measures.

The Government, after failing to get the support of the Opposition for a one-month extension of the State of Public Emergency in the parishes of Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine, announced that a number of measures would be fast tracked to complement the crime fighting plans of the security forces when the State of Emergency expired.

The bills are:

* An act to amend the Bail Act;

* An act to make interim provision extending the powers of arrest and

detention under Sections 50B and 50F of the Constabulary Force Act;

* An act to further amend the Firearms Act;

* An act to amend the Offences Against the Person Act;

* An act to amend the Parole Act; and

* An act to make interim provision in relation to the grant of bail in specified circumstances.

In the meantime, the prime minister said work was being done as a matter of utmost priority on the Organized Crime Act which will include specific powers to deal with organised criminal gangs. He said much greater use is now being made of the Proceeds of Crime Act, including the provisions for civil forfeiture to help in disabling the activities of crime bosses.

Also, additional equipment for the security forces is being procured and the Government is working with the private sector to secure additional vehicles within the shortest possible time, Golding said in his national broadcast.