KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III, through its Violence Interruption Programme (VIP), is receiving commendation for its work with communities to reduce crime and violence.

The VIP is a peace building approach used to help curtail violence in the 50 communities across eight parishes targeted by CSJP.

Senior Regional Case Management Coordinator for the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) at CSJP, Orville Simmonds, said that the VIP uses a specific methodology which is the use of violence interrupters.

“To a large extent, they are young men and young women who have influence in the communities. A lot of them have been reformed and they have the trust and respect of other members in the communities. They are used identify medium and high risk youth as well as potential acts of violence and mediate, so that they do not happen,” he said.

The programme, Simmonds added, has been quite effective through its implementation with the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and spans eastern and western Jamaica.

Formed in 2002 by the Ministry of National Security, the PMI is intended to treat with gang violence and improve community cohesion.

It has been pivotal in improving challenging environments in communities like August Town, Mountain View, Dunkirk, Greater Browns Town and Parade Gardens in Kingston and St Andrew; March Pen and Homestead in St Catherine; and Granville and Salt Spring in St James.

The approximately 125 violence interrupters islandwide undergo training in conflict management, mediation, behaviour change, among other interventions.

Simmonds revealed that the interrupters, who are called peace officers by community members, will be further trained as they are being called upon to intervene in domestic disputes and other matters for which they are not equipped to handle.  

“We recognise that, in many instances, an interrupter is the first responder when there is an act of violence. In most instances, when there is a death, an interrupter finds himself or herself having to relate to family members. So we think that they should have the capacity to provide some emergency grief counselling,” he said.