The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) yesterday worshipped at Church on the Rock in Kingston at the start of National Police Youth Club Week.

During the service, members of various clubs were commended for their efforts in helping the security forces bridge the gap between themselves and various communities.

Among those who commended the youths was Police Commissioner Owen Ellington who, in a message delivered by Deputy Commissioner Delworth Heath, pointed to a number of benefits that have emerged through the establishment of the over 600 youth clubs islandwide.

“Here in Jamaica, we continue to admire the tremendous potential being displayed by our future leaders, and this should behove us to move at a pace to harness those talents and to empower them and to watch them strive to become the pride of a nation, seeking to reap dividends from the investment made in them,” he said.

One of those dividends reaped, he noted, was the fact that many of the youths have since enrolled in the JCF and are now making their contribution to nation-building.

“These clubs were initially established to create a less volatile environment, where individuals can socialise with each other and develop social and professional skills,” he said. “Our programmes have been aimed at breaking bad habits, promoting discipline, responsibility, self-confidence, self-esteem. Facing adversities, dreams, ambitions, and prospects have become our reality.”

The Police Officers Youth Club Movement was launched 59 years ago and currently comprises more than 11,000 youths islandwide. It is one of the premier movements within the Police Safety and Security Branch of the JCF.

“It is geared primarily at engaging our youths meaningfully as a way of preventing crime, rather than having to arrest these youngsters,” explained Superintendent Karina Powell Hood of the Community Safety and Security headquarters.

“We partner with our youths, because we see that the youths are among the most vulnerable in the society, and we take our youths very seriously, and we take our responsibility seriously,” she said.

Given the vulnerability of the nation’s youths, Superintendent of Police Marlene Wilson-Christie called upon the church community to offer prayers for the constabulary and also made an appeal for Jamaicans to play a part in protecting the police.

“I say to you, the youth in your community, the youth who are next door, the one who you observe that is not going to school, the one who you observe is smoking ganja, it can’t be it is not my business,” she said.

Yesterday’s service was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Culture and the Ministry of National Security who also applauded the police officers for the work they have been doing in shaping the lives of the youths.

“The spiritual, physical, educational, and community values that define your movements, continue to enrich lives and, by extension, build the pillars of a progressive nation. We can therefore celebrate the knowledge that thousands of our young persons, through your organisation, have been giving unwavering service to this country,” said director of the Youth and Culture Ministry, Andrine Blackwin.

Meanwhile, Church on the Rock also launched its Youth Summer Day Camp in collaboration with the JCF and a number of other government and corporate entities. Organiser for the camp Richard Hines, said it was essential because of the increasing concern over safety and security in Jamaica, and given the fact that there is an obvious lack of respect for authority which has resulted in violent conflicts among children. The camp will be held between August 12 and 16 and is aimed at bringing 1,000 young persons together for fellowship.