MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Head of the Manchester police, Superintendent Shane McCalla, is urging citizens to go back to basics on their knees in prayer as part of the push to combat crime.

The police chief was speaking in the context of 59 people being murdered in the usually safe parish of Manchester last year.

“Manchester, we need to go back to basics. The back to basics is on our knees, because nothing that we do we do it of our own accord and that is the only way that we can build the partnership, that is the only way we can take back Manchester,” McCalla preached to his audience congregated at the Faith Claim Ministries in Greenvale, Mandeville on Sunday.

The church service was held to promote partnership between the police and citizens for a safer Manchester.

Manchester recorded a significant increase in major categories of crime including murders, shootings and robberies in 2022 when compared to 2021. Since the start of the year, the south-central parish has been rocked by crime having recorded a 150 per cent increase in murder up to January 22 when compared to the corresponding period last year.

McCalla in pointing to the statistics, called for a greater partnership between citizens and the police.

“Fifty-nine persons are not here with us today in 2023, because of the acts of violence that are perpetuated by the evil of men and that is why when we look at partnership and promoting [it] between citizens of Manchester and the police,” he said.

McCalla quoted multiple scriptures as he suggested that divine intervention is needed to restore peace in Manchester.

“If we are going to do the partnership that we want today, we are going to need this. Psalms 127 represents perfecting the foundation and [is] the blueprint for every single crime plan and partnership that we [will] ever need,” he said

“We need Jesus in every crime plan and that is why I saw it fitting for my men and women to start 2023 with the church,” he added.

The police chief called on members of the church to pray against evil.

“Brothers and sisters, it is now the time for us to pray, to raise our hands that the Lord has given us and put it up in the fight against evil…. The only way to break [evil] is the blood of Jesus,” he declared.

McCalla told members of the police force who were among the congregation to remain strong in the fight against crime.

“When we step out there we can’t step in fear, because we have to know that God is with us, if God is with us who shall we fear, no man, no evil, no gunman, no (law) breaker, no lotto scammer, no rapist,” he said.

He encouraged citizens not to “sit by” and allow criminality to take over.

“… A popular saying says, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to sit by and do nothing, so Manchester today I want to know if you are going to sit by. I want you to rise up in the name of Jesus,” said McCalla as he ended his message with the singing of ‘Let’s Go Forward for God’.