By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THERE HAS been a significant reduction in major crimes in St. James since mid-July and the police are also reporting that they have made significant inroads into the five major gangs in Montego Bay.
The police hierarchy is attributing the success to the recent private sector support for the Jamaica Constabulary Force that has bolstered the crime-fighting strategies of the police.
"Since the private sector/police initiative on July 14, major crimes in the parish, including murders, shootings, rapes and robberies are trending downwards in comparison to the mid-July to September period last year," said Superintendent John Morris, area one crime chief, while lauding the private sector for its provision of rental cars and funding for petrol for the police.
DECLINED BY 70 PER CENT
Giving more details about crime in St. James, Deputy Superintendent Cleon March, St. James crime chief, said that during June the parish was showing a 110 per cent increase in murders over the corresponding period in 2003. However, by the end of August the murder figures had declined by 70 per cent.
"We saw murders moving down from 15 per month in July to nine per month in August and now we have only recorded five murders for the parish since the start of September," DSP March told The Gleaner.
To date, the Montego Bay business community has provided five rental cars to the police and made available $150,000 in financing for petrol.
Since July there has also been a Crime Monitoring Committee which is made up of private sector officials who meet once a month with the police to review crime-fighting strategies in the town.
However, while the police are pleased that crime is on the decline, they lament that criminal activity still remains at unsatisfactory levels. Up to the start of this week, major crimes were still 29 per cent higher than last year's figure.
In the meantime, the police have been successful in taking out two of St. James' gang leaders within the last week.
Superintendent Morris said alleged leader of the John Papa Crew, John 'Papa' Forrest was killed by the police four days ago; while the alleged leader of the Satan Crew, Richard 'Satan' Samuels, was picked up at the airport on the weekend, while trying to leave the island for The Bahamas.
"We have been successful in dismantling the gangs, most have left the domain of St. James and have gone elsewhere as we turn on the heat," said Supt. Morris.
