By Adrian Frater, News Editor
Commissioner of Police, Francis Forbes (with microphone), outlining new crime-fighting measures during his visit to western Jamaica last Friday. Seated with the commissioner, from left are, SSP Paul Ferguson, ACP Linton Latty (partially hidden), ACP Charles Scarlett, ACP Novelette Grant and force chaplain, Reverend Courtney Walters. - Adrian Frater Photo
WESTERN BUREAU:
BASED ON the current homicide pattern in St. James, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes has described the parish, which includes the nation's tourism capital Montego Bay, as a place where one could expect a murder at just about anytime.
"St. James is one of the parishes that is contributing to the upward climb in homicide statistics," said Commissioner Forbes as he addressed police personnel in Montego Bay last week. "It just seem that there are now many, many places in the parish where you can expect a homicide at anytime."
In looking at some of the possible strategies to curtail lawlessness in St. James, which recorded over 100 murders for the first time last year, the commissioner said that unlike in former times, plans are afoot to give local commanding officers the authority to plan and implement strategies independent of the police high command.
"We are going to allow local officers to develop their own strategies and implement them," said Commissioner Forbes in outlining the new approach to be taken. "We have been using this strategy in some divisions in Kingston and we are going to use it in St. James as well."
EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATIONS
However, despite the promise of autonomy, Commissioner Forbes is promising that St. James police will still be free to call on the high command in times of need. He also stated that funds are now available to repair the old Summit Police Station, in Montego Bay, which is earmarked to provide emergency accommodations for police reinforcements from outside the parish.
St. James is also expected to benefit from the planned regionalisation within the JCF, which is aimed at strengthening leadership at the local level. Under the new arrangement, a deputy commissioner, who will be provided with all the resources he needs, will be put in charge of a region.
"Within a region you will perhaps have two sub-regions head by a deputy commissioner," said Commissioner Forbes. "In that region, you will have the Mobile Reserve being represented in numbers and you would have narcotics represented in numbers. You would even have representatives at the divisional level from the finance branch of the organisation."
In regards to the drugs situation in the parish, which city officials are blaming for the escalation in gun violence in Montego Bay and its environs, Commissioner Forbes said recent moves against suspected drug barons is just the beginning of things to come.
"The fight is far from over," said Commissioner Forbes, noting that the local police are getting international help in the quest to break the back of the local drug trade. "What you have seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg. We have a number of big dealers in the pipeline."
While he noted that he was encouraged by the police's effort to reduce crime in St. James, the Commissioner said he does not believe the situation has settled sufficiently. "We want to see the homicides going down," he said. "I will not be happy until I see that happening."
