MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Law enforcement in Manchester have ramped up their community policing efforts, with stakeholders joining them in targeting the once troubled community of Greenvale.

The community located just west of Mandeville has seen low crime in the past three years with police reporting only one murder over the period.

“We have a low crime rate in this community. We cannot afford for this community to go back to the days when they are under curfew and tough police measures are engaged within the space,” Zone One Commander in Manchester, Deputy Superintendent Valdin Amos, told journalists on Tuesday during a walkthrough of Greenvale.

“This is just one of the many communities that we are engaging…We hope that we will enjoy a low crime rate within this community,” added Amos.

Police and agencies in Greenvale, Manchester on Tuesday ahead of a walkthrough. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

In recent weeks, the Manchester police have targeted troubled communities and hotspots, including Cedar Grove, Green Street, Albion and May Day.

On Tuesday, agencies including the Social Development Commission and Southern Parks and Markets Waste Management joined the police in walking through sections of Greenvale.

“It has been almost three years now we had the last murder and that murder was solved with the assistance of the community. Now we are here today and you can look around the police and the different agencies are welcomed within the community. Everyone feels free to walk around and greet individuals in the community,” said Amos.

Inspector Romaine Brooks, sub-officer in charge of the Mandeville Police Station, reiterated plans for competitions, including a football league scheduled for Sunday, February 15.

“In relation to what is happening in Manchester, we the police are doing a crime reduction strategy…We are planning to do several community-related activities, so what we do is, if we are targeting a community, we want to do a walkthrough first and [invite] agencies to listen to the residents’ concerns,” said Brooks.

“We have social events to include football competitions which we are planning, cricket competition, domino competition and even a netball competition. We are also planning a DJ competition to get all the young people involved,” he added.

He said the police’s effort is being supported by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the Custos of Manchester, Garfield Green.

— Kasey Williams