Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
From left, Beverly Lopez of the Jamaica Exporters Association, Custos of Kingston, Rev. Canon Weeville Gordon and Professor Errol Morrison of the Council for Voluntary Social Services review notes from calls made to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's phone-in session Thursday night.POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes said he was "fully occupied" at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's (PSOJ) phone-in session Thursday night, where he entertained suggestions and concerns, and got tips from participating members of the public.
The monthly 'Lets Take Jamaica Back' session gave the public another chance to join in the fight against crime, with the Commissioner taking the hot seat again to field calls.
Along with the Commissioner, who said he received 17 calls, were Assistant Commissioner Jevene Bent, Reverend Canon Weeville Gordon from St. Matthews Church, Errol Morrison from the Council of Voluntary Social Services and Beverly Lopez from the Jamaica Exporters Association.
Commissioner Forbes said that there were a lot of positive calls, some commending the police, with special kudos going to the Constant Spring police for their courtesy. He also received tips about weapons in a particular area.
A caller from Canada said that there were lots of people overseas with information and thus the Crime Stop extracts on the web was something to be encouraged.
Criticisms from calls received by both the Commissioner and Mrs. Lopez included that corruption in the force needed to be cleared up, with cops at all levels being forced to declare their assets.
Other suggestions included that all citizens carry personal ID cards, that a more businesslike approach be taken with the beneficial police youth clubs and that there be more undercover policemen on the streets to control illegal taxi and bus drivers, as well as searches for young men, who a caller noticed are all carrying bags - a potential avenue for weapon transportation.
Dissatisfaction with the justice system was one of the more common complaints, said Assistant Commissioner Bent. She said that suggestions included bringing back flogging in the system for petty criminals, where the caller was directed to the Justice Ministry.
Assistant Commissioner Bent said that there were a couple of complaints about night noises as well as suggestions on how to improve policing. Persons who called in with domestic and other problems were introduced to the police community relations arm, and given advice on procedures and avenues open to them.
The participants said that Thursday was a quiet night, with fewer calls this time around, blamed on the overhang from the holidays.
The telephone lines were open between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. and the session was held at the PSOJ headquarters on Hope Road, St. Andrew.
The phone-ins have been growing in popularity since its inception, receiving calls from as far afield as South Africa and Canada.
Previous recommendations have included the return of hanging, assuming a zero tolerance attitude to crime, creating a volunteer police force and giving police tranquilliser pellets to replace live rounds in an attempt to save lives. The sessions are intended to encourage and enable people to give the police greater information on crime.
