Mandeville, Manchester — Residents of Comfort in central Manchester had reason for quiet satisfaction late last week.

For the second year running, there were no murders in their community in the first few days of the New Year.

For several years previously, Comfort had to deal with at least one so-called “anniversary killing” early in the New Year driving fear in the hearts of residents.

They say the change for the better and indeed the return of a strong sense of law and order is the direct result of a conscious initiative for cooperation between police and citizens.

“The situation is much better now,” explained Comfort resident Carlton Windeth.  “For one thing the people are more alert (to the possibility of criminal activity) and the police are around,” he said.

Head of the Manchester Police, Superintendent Melvin Brown told Observer Central that “proactive” police operations, and constant police presence through foot and mobile patrols has influenced “trust” between police and residents.

Marvlyn Adams, president of the Comfort Community Club and public relations officer for the community’s development committee agrees.

“It (relationship between police and residents) is working well and we would love for it to continue,” she said.

Such is the new confidence Windeth who only recently urged that a permanent police post should be in Comfort now says an actual physical building may not now be necessary.

“We wouldn’t need it if police and public can continue to cooperate the way we are doing now,” Windeth told Observer Central by telephone.

He says communication between residents and police is helping. “We can talk to each other and at meetings we are able to raise issues and deal with them,” he said.

As recently as late 2014, at a community meeting in Comfort, attended by Minister of National Security and Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, Peter Bunting, Windeth was still advocating for a police post.  

At that meeting, Bunting told the audience he did not believe that a police post would be the most efficient use of the resources, given that the Williamsfield Police Station was in close proximity.

“….It hardly makes sense to put another building for police here. Every time you put up a building for (the) police you use personnel to have to watch the building and to man the building because somebody has to be there. It is more efficient use of the resources to put persons to patrol communities, to respond to calls, to work as community police officers,” he said.

 Bunting urged residents to cooperate with the police and each other in building their community. They should do away with the ‘informer fi dead” culture and “crab in the barrel” mentality, he said.

 He encouraged men to be model fathers and father figures in the drive to build a strong, peaceful and thriving community.