KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has rejected claims that its erroneous practice of “arresting first and investigating later”, led to the collapse of the court case against 19 alleged members of the Westmoreland-based Dexter Street (Middle East) Gang.

The alleged gangsters walked free from the Supreme Court yesterday after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the case against them.

Prosecutors told the court that they could not locate the key witness needed to prove the case against the alleged gangsters, 15 males and four females, who had been charged under the anti-gang legislation after they were allegedly linked to nearly 40 murders in western Jamaica.

But in a statement this morning the JCF said that solid police work was done in the preparation of the case against the alleged gangsters.

“We would like to also make it clear that every effort was made by the police to have the (key witness) placed under the Witness Protection Programme. Despite our best efforts, the individual resisted police protection and eventually disappeared altogether,” the JCF said.

“The constabulary would like to thank all the hardworking investigators and prosecutors who worked on this matter. Our commitment continues to be the provision of thoroughly-investigated cases to the prosecution with good supporting evidence as well as the protection of the rule of law in Jamaica. We remain committed to keeping our citizens safe.

“We are undaunted in the fight against gang violence and organized crime in our country and confident that justice will be delivered in the 12 major gang-related cases currently before the courts,” added the JCF.

The Dexter Street Gang had also been linked to a shipment of 19 guns and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition seized by the police after it was intercepted at the Kingston Container Terminal on November 17 last year.

Arthur Hall