Criminals, beware!
TOWER ISLE, St Mary — The Area Two police are reporting a decline in murders in St Ann, St Mary and Portland, as well as significant success in bringing accused persons before the courts.
Head of the Area Two Police Division Assistant Commissioner of Police Ealan Powell said accused persons have been brought before the courts for 62 per cent of the murders committed this year in the parishes.
“This is a significant achievement when the national average is usually around 30 per cent,” ACP Powell said.
The Area Two police, who hosted a press conference at their Tower Isle headquarters in St Mary, last Thursday, boasted that Portland remains the safest parish in Jamaica with only eight murders committed since the start of the year. Six of those murders were said to be as a result of domestic disputes.
St Ann has reported a 34 per cent reduction in killings, with 14 less murders than the 41 committed in the corresponding period for 2012.
St Mary, too, has made progress, with the parish recording eight murders for the second half of this year, after starting out with 21 murders for the first six months.
ACP Powell said measures implemented to deal with the high incidence of murders in the parish may have accounted for the decrease.
The police, he said, have not only been ensuring that murders are less, but are also removing illegal firearms and ammunition. Statistics show 46 illegal weapons and 1,652 rounds recovered so far this year.
“This is a significant blow in the drug-for-gun trade,” according to ACP Powell.
Thirty of the firearms seized were recovered in Portland, with 18 found in one incident. Six persons were arrested in relation to that find.
Eleven firearms were seized in St Ann and five in St Mary.
There is also an increase in the reports of sexual offences in the parishes, which have resulted in more persons being arrested and charged.
The police believe this may be as a result of increased visibility in schools and the community, as well as building citizen’s confidence in the law enforcers.
The police say they have also engaged in an intense public education programme, sensitising parents and young girls on ways to avoid sexual abuse.
Personnel from the Area Two division say they currently enjoy a great relationship with communities which have active neighbourhood watches and youth clubs.
Meanwhile, ACP Powell made an appeal to grown men to let children enjoy their childhood years.
“Leave the young ladies alone. Allow them to grow as children,” he urged.
The divisional head pointed out that many parents were also acting as accomplices, shielding offenders in order to secure financial support.
While the Area Two police are making significant strides in crime fighting, there have, however, been reports of increased robberies.
The most popular items being targeted, according to the police, are cellphones, laptops, jewellery, and cash.
According to ACP Powell, several meetings have been held with stakeholders, and the police have been providing useful tips on how to avoid these incidents.
As the Christmas season approaches, the police have also issued several warnings.
ACP Powell appealed to persons who are in the promoters of social events to ensure that they state the time allotted so patrons will not complain when events end within the legal time.
“If the cut-off time is two o’clock it is going to be two o’clock,” he added.
“When you advertise, you need to tell patrons the time that you have been given, so that they are prepared before that,” ACP Powell explained.
The police also urged business operators transporting large sums of money to utilise the services of the police in order to ensure their safety and that their money gets to financial institutions safely.
“Those of you who are transporting large sums of money around, we are advising you to seek the help of the police, and this assistance will come at absolutely no cost to you,” Powell said.
In the meantime, Superintendent Dean Johnson, head of the St Mary police, revealed that most of the robberies in the parish take place outside the town. In light of that, he encouraged motorists not to pick up strangers along these roadways.
The Area Two police have also indicated that there will be high visibility of law enforcers on the streets in towns, across all three parishes, for the upcoming holiday season.