THE GOVERNMENT is now reviewing a major crime plan submitted by the heads of the island's security forces to tackle the upsurge of violence once and for all.
According to Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, the intelligence capability of the police force has been greatly improved and police personnel focusing on organised crime, gangs and other groups are now preparing a list of names as well as arrest and search warrants, which are expected to assist the police when the new initiative is launched.
"On the list will be the names of gang leaders and their members who we believe are contributing in a terrible way to the crime situation in Jamaica," Commissioner Forbes told reporters yesterday.
While not disclosing much about the crime plan, Commis-sioner Forbes suggested that in the past, concentration on the plan to fight crime "centred significantly on perhaps too much on the security forces' response".
"We have to now adopt a multi-agency approach in order to neutralise this constant will by people to unleash violence on others. There is going to be a significant difference in the approach to this crime plan," said Commissioner Forbes.
He was speaking yesterday at the handing over ceremony of an additional 101 motorcycles and 28 buses and jeeps, presented by National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips, to beef up the resources of the police force.
"I believe the police can be succesfull this time around. Something will be done on this occasion that will leave the community feeling that they were better off whilst we were there. We are going to help the other agencies rebuild these communities," Commissioner Forbes said.
The Commissioner stressed that one of the differences with this new Crime Plan was that when the security forces leave a community, "we must have done something tangible that will let the community feel sorry to let us go".
He said the additional vehicles were part of a long shopping list submitted to the Government.
National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips has embraced the new crime plan.
"I am assuring you that the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are engaged in the highest levels of planning and preparation in gathering the necessary intelligence, in undertaking the reconnaissance of the places that they have to go, in training and the re-equipping of the men and women involved with the tactical expertise that will be necessary," the Minister said.
Dr. Phillips said the Government had already brought changes to the laws as far as the interception of communication legislation was concerned.
"We have secured Cabinet approval for the preparartion of bills in relation to plea bargaining and amendments to the Fingerprint and Port Security acts," Dr. Phillips said.
The Minister said the fight against crime this time around required a change in tactics and the basic purpose was to dismantle the para-military gangs that had been wreaking havoc in several communities.
"We expect to see a drastic reduction in the type of activities being carried out by these para-military gangs who are threatening the development of this country," the Minister said.
