KINGSTON, Jamaica — Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams today said he is unable to say whether or not recent prison breaks are a result of collusion between criminals and lawmen.

He was addressing the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President’s Forum at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston this morning.

Williams admitted that, while police officers have been, in previous years, arrested for consorting with criminals, he “…can’t say definitively that some of the escapes have not been a result of collusion between police and prisoners”.

He explained that people have been arrested in the past for smuggling ganja and other contraband into prison cells, but refrained from stating whether or not anyone had been previously arrested in connection with facilitating a prison break.

Earlier this month, police officers attached to the Denham Town Police Station were placed on interdiction following the early morning escape of nine prisoners from the Denham Town lock-up.

The communications arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) reported that the men were discovered missing during a routine cell check, about 7:30 am on Sunday, September 18. The police said they escaped by cutting a ventilation grille.

Two of the nine escapees have since been recaptured.

Williams this morning said an investigation into the jailbreak is ongoing but no information could be provided until the results are received.

Keleshia Powell