ST ANDREW, Jamaica— Several residents, stakeholders and justices of the peace (JPs) in the St Andrew South Police Division attended a community meeting at the Duhaney Park Primary School in the parish on Monday.

The meeting was held to engage residents and the more than 40 JPs in the division who have been contributing to community development.

Acting Senior Superintendent Damion Manderson encouraged the stakeholders to get on board with the police and help to make their communities safer.

“Having peace, justice, and strong partnerships in the SAS communities will promote stability, fairness, and accountability, and that’s what we want for the citizens,” SSP Manderson told those in attendance.

He shared that many JPs in the division were assigned to police stations where they have their own offices. He said the JPs perform a number of duties, including judicial functions where they sit in the Parish or Lay Magistrates’ courts.

The SSP urged the attendees to increase their efforts and make the partnership stronger as they work together to rebuild and reclaim the communities one street at a time.

He said the rights and freedoms of many residents in many communities were being pushed over by violence producers, who believe that because they have guns, they can dictate to others. However, the police will not sit back and allow a few criminals to take over the place.

The Acting SSP spoke on the division’s successes in recovering firearms and ammunition and said the team continues to work assiduously to ensure the residents’ safety.

He emphasised that as the division increases proximity policing, residents should expect more youth engagement activities, community development and several parenting seminars. He added that the division will continue to educate residents about domestic violence and its impact and how to treat conflicts.