Bunting commends JCF on anti-gang conviction
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition spokesperson on national security, Peter Bunting , is congratulating the Jamaica Constabulary Force on its first conviction under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisation) Act, more commonly known as the Anti-Gang legislation.
His remarks come on the heels of yesterday’s sentencing of 22-year-old Jordan Markland, a member of the Klansman Gang. Markland was sentenced to ten years in prison for participating in a criminal organisation.
Bunting stated: “For the first time in Jamaica, we have membership in criminal organizations being effectively addressed by the law. No longer are the police constrained to wait on gangsters to commit heinous crimes, as they have been provided with a robust law that can pre-empt atrocities against the people, without infringing on hard-won rights. The law is being made to work for us, closing in on modern-day criminal enterprises.”
He explained that by design, the Anti-Gang Legislation can be used to disrupt criminal organisations, suppressing criminal activity and restore a sense of security in the society.
“This strategic legislation was implemented in 2014 as a key tool for law enforcement. If used effectively it will serve as a strong deterrent to gang affiliation generally.”
While commending the police, particularly the constabulary’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation (C-TOC) Branch on the “fine investigative work”, Bunting said “the case went relatively quickly through the system, from arrest to sentencing in eighteen months.
“I encourage the current administration to provide greater training to investigators so that this legislation is applied not only against violent street gangs, but also against white collar criminal organisations which have been defrauding victims of tens of millions of dollars.”
The former national security minister said he is encouraged by this result and urged the JCF to continue to effectively exploit this piece of legislation to bring an end to gang formation and dismantle existing criminal organisations.
