JAMAICANS have quickly adopted the latest method of feeding intelligence to the police, sending some 3,000 text messages through the recently introduced 119 text system.

Director of Communications at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Karl Angell, told the Observer that even though a small percentage were prank texts, the JCF was encouraged by the responses received so far in the one month since its introduction.

“As is usual with these things, just like 119, you always have prank calls but we are encouraged by the responses that we have gotten so far…the information has been coming in and some of it has been processed by the relevant agencies that deal with intelligence,” Angell said.

While not at liberty as to disclose the nature of the legitimate calls received, Angell admitted that the information had “been helpful”.

“I am not privy to what the messages contain as the information is passed on to the relevant agency and they deal with the processing…but my brief from those agencies is that it is already a good source,” the JCF communications director said.

According to Angell, the facility gave the force “leverage it didn’t have before”.

“We are very happy in terms of how it is developing,” he commented.

The JCF, he said, was encouraged by the response, but further urged that people “use it and use it well”.

The mechanism which allows citizens to send a text to the 119 emergency number at a $ 1 dollar charge, was introduced in June and is a joint-venture undertaking between telecommunications giant Digicel and the constabulary, aimed at further dismantling the island’s criminal network.

Meanwhile, with regards to the progress of plans to restructure the 119 operator system, Angell said the undertaking as announced by Commissioner Lucius Thomas in June, would be dependent on the fruition of the preparations to relocate the Police High Command to the former Jamintel building on Duke Street, downtown Kingston.

“Any restructuring would be dependent on when we move into Jamintel, and the government, through the Ministry of National Security, is working to get the building in shape,” Angell said.

“In terms of exactly when, I can’t say, I can’t give a timeline, but I suspect that these things will be dealt with to coincide with the removal of the JCF High Command to the Jamintel building downtown,” Angell added.

Meanwhile, Communications Officer in the National Security Ministry Donovan Nelson told the Observer that the plans to relocate the police headquarters to the former Jamintel building on Duke Street, downtown Kingston, have not been abandoned and are still on target.

Nelson, while unable to supply a specific date for the move, told the Observer that the preparations to have members of the Police High Command relocated from their Old Hope Road offices were on track, contrary to appearances.

“Where the announcement is concerned regarding the Jamintel building and its suitability for a police headquarters, we are presently on course to create a police headquarters out of the building. Therefore, whatever building requirements, refurbishing, retrofitting or equipment is required to create a first-world police headquarters out of the Jamintel building on Duke Street, those plans are currently on target,” Nelson said. He, however, would not agree to having the Observer tour the facility.

The government last year announced that members of the Police High Command would be moving out of their Old Hope Road, St Andrew, headquarters, to make way for a housing development to be undertaken by the National Housing Trust.