SENIOR Superintendent of Police (SSP) Steve McGregor believes that the efforts of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to cut the country’s balooning crime rate could be significantly bolstered if there is consistency on the part of the JCF’s Community Safety and Security Branch (CSS).

In fact, McGregor, who now heads the CSS, is adamant that while arrests and gun seizures are requisites in the JCF’s fight, understanding the thought process of residents is also important in crime reduction.

“We have to [figure out] what is operating in the minds of our people in the community that is telling them to kill each other for basic matters. The police will have to go closer to where all this decision-making is taking place.

“We’re (police) well on our way to taking 1,000 guns off the streets this year, but you don’t see any contingency as it relates to the numbers that we’re having with murders. So that is telling you that there is another area that we need to put more focus on and that we need to get into the headspace of our people,” McGregor told the Jamaica Observer in his first interview since it became public that he would now be in charge of the CSS.

The lawman admitted that the approach might not be new, but said that the difference will be consistency of his team’s and himself in the work they do across the 19 geographic divisions within the police force. The CSS is represented in all 19 police divisions.

“It (community policing) must be approached and done in a consistent manner. I’ve always said that a divisional commander should have a voice, a face and a name. This means that he must make a connect with the citizens he serves,” he insisted.

The SSP, who has served as both operations officer and divisional commander, has headed the Kingston Central, Kingston Western, St Thomas, and St James Police Division as well as the Motorized Patrol Division.

“We’re going to ensure that there is a consistency with which community meetings are held so that the people are kept up-to-date on what is happening. We’re going to ensure that all 19 geographic divisions are consistent with this and this will be my task as the community safety and security officer,” he said.

McGregor pointed out that the first three months of his tenure will see all divisions being tasked to identify a safe community or work to ensure that a community is safe by implementing a curfew programme for children 17 and under; establishing an active police youth club; a consultative committee that will be made up of pastors, Justices of the Peace and principals who will deal with issues that arise before they get out of control.

The resources to achieve this, he said, “will come”.

“The commissioner has assured me that we will get that support,” said McGregor.

In the meantime, he said lawmen who will be going into communities will receive additional training as part of efforts to achieve consistency.

“They will be sensitised as to what will be expected of them when they go into the divisions. We want all to be aware of what is required of them as it relates to working with the citizens.

“This is a thrust to make the force a service oriented one; a force that will be working with the consent of the people. We must engage the people; they must be an integral part of whatever strategy that we will be using to police them,” he stressed.