ARTHUR “Stitch” Martin, the assistant commissioner in charge of the constabulary’s Mobile Reserve, has been transferred to the Area Five Headquarters, as part of the force’s plan to try and put a lid on the escalating crime wave in Spanish Town, the St Catherine capital.

Martin, who has served the constabulary for more than 30 years, will take over from Assistant Commissioner George Williams, who has been shifted to the CIB headquarters in downtown Kingston.

Senior Superintendent Lola Evans will take over from Martin at Mobile Reserve, while Williams will relieve Assistant Commissioner Reggie Grant, who is to proceed on long leave.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Renford Robinson has assumed command of St Catherine North – Spanish Town – replacing Senior Superintendent Clifford Blake, who has been transferred to St Elizabeth.

The Constabulary Communications Network (CNN) last night confirmed the transfers, which took immediate effect.

Police sources said last night that the move to transfer Martin to the Area 5 Headquarters (Constant Spring), which has jurisdiction over Spanish Town, was a strategic move to put a lid on the violence in the old capital. Martin, the source said, is a successful and experienced crime investigator who “gets things done”.

Spanish Town has been rocked by gang violence, which has seen more than 150 deaths since January this year.

Just this week the town’s mayor threatened to resign after blaming the upsurge of crime on poor management of the Spanish Town police hierarchy and charged that the lack of confidence and trust in the police, coupled with poor and irresponsible management, was the main cause.

Yesterday, government announced that Roman Catholic priest Monsignor Richard Albert was named as chairman of a working group of community leaders from Spanish Town who will take a closer look at the crime situation in the town and make recommendations to the government.