KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a release Tuesday, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Minority Leader for St James, Charles Sinclair, suggested several measures to be explored in the parish, in order to improve policing and curb crime.

The suggestions are:

1. Dividing the parish into at least two divisions with adequate human and physical resources.

2. Improving the physical condition at stations.

The basic infrastructure of too many stations is in a poor state. Rundown toilets, leaking offices, desk and chairs from which officers have to work which are fit for the Retirement Dump, are among the unacceptable conditions that prevail.

3. Improve the mobility of police.

Many stations have significant areas to cover with thousands of citizens to serve, yet the stations are only assigned one vehicle. These include Coral Gardens, Anchovy, Cambridge, and Spring Mount.

4. Better coordination of court matters involving police.

Detectives are in court waiting long hours for matters on the mention list to be called. It would be more meaningful if those officers were out conducting police duties, including preparations for the case being mentioned in court, while the new date is communicated to them through the court and police liaison officers. Detectives should only be present in court on trial days or if needed for examination by judges or counsel.

5. Improving intel capability of the police.

This will require the building of relationships between residents and the police and among residents in the communities.

6. Increasing CCTV public/private partnership.

Though new legislation may be needed, the Place of Amusement Regulations can be used, through which conditions may be imposed on the issuance of Place of Amusement permits for CCTV cameras to be strategically installed and to which the police will have access.

7. Fast-tracking DNA legislation along with the national identification number.

8. Motivating members of JCF.

Many of the members of the JCF are not motivated. Personal and working conditions of the rank and file officers need to be improved.

9. Drone capability with guidelines to protect the privacy of citizens needs almost immediate implementation

10. Massive national education drive for citizens, in civic responsibility and values and attitudes. Our citizens need to be re-socialised while we seek to improve their economic standards.

11. Improving the witness protection system

12. Judicial process must work efficiently so that citizens are of the view that they can get justice through that medium and do not have to take matters into their own hands.

Sinclair said: “While the aforementioned suggestions are not meant to be exclusive nor to be viewed as a panacea, it is our (view) that it is full time for the hierarchy of the Jamaica Constabulary and the ministries of National Security and Justice (to) move beyond mere cosmetics and implement significant and far-reaching measures to improve policing in St James to curb the crime monster which is wreaking havoc in the parish and causing grief to families.”