MANDEVILLE, Manchester - A Memorandum of Understanding to finalise plans for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in crime hot spots in Mandeville is now being drafted. That's according to president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Winston Lawson, whose organisation is spearheading the effort.

Lawson said the much-anticipated CCTV cameras - expected to cost about $6 million - should be up and running by year end.

"We want to look at a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of National Security and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). We're actually drafting that now," he said.

He said a possible provider from Manchester has already been identified, and his team is working with Government to get the cameras up before year end.

"We're moving to ensure that we have at least two or three cameras up in Mandeville's market area by the end of the year. Our concept is to start there and hopefully expand as the resources allow. We're going to approach Government for some waivers to import the cameras," he said.

The placement of CCTV cameras in crime hot spots in Mandeville is part of a bigger effort by stakeholders in the parish to equip the Mandeville police and the wider Area Three Division with high-tech crime-fighting resources. The effort - dubbed the Close to Crime Initiative (CTCI) - is spearheaded by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and includes improvements to the Intelligence and Investigative Units at the Mandeville Police Station and its fleet of motor vehicles. The installation of CCTV cameras which will be linked directly to the police data base, is the major bulk of the $10 million CTCI plan.

Lawson said since the start of the initiative last April,the police have received six additional motor vehicles, and the Intelligence and Investigative Units have received additional equipment.

Though Mandeville is still considered one the safest places in Jamaica, police statistics released in June this year showed that crime was inching up. At that time, the number of murders had almost tripled, moving to over 24 this year, from nine last year. Over 15 guns have been recovered in the parish since January and the police say robberies have been increasing.
Local police are constantly on the lookout for criminals from across the border in Clarendon, who have been known to use the parish as a hideout.

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