Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Thomas

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas told residents of Tawes Pen and other areas in St. Catherine that according to statistics, approximately 60 to 70 per cent of the crimes in those areas are committed by persons between the ages of 18 to 30 years old.

He was speaking at a function at the Phillippo Baptist Church last Thursday which was convened by the Social Development Commission.

Said the commissioner to residents: "Do you have guns in your community? Do you have gang members in your community? When the youths from your community start to fire shots from the train line to the centre of town, do you think that's right, or do you think they are strangers?"

The police chief said that from intelligence gathered, criminals attached to both the 'Clansman' and 'One Order' gangs are armed with several sophisticated firearms and are not afraid to fire at law enforcement officers.

Illegal guns and ammunition

He said that while the police need to act professionally, the residents have to be fair in ridding their communities of the illegal guns and ammunition.

Meanwhile, several members of the community complained that they have been treated unfairly by police. The commissioner promised to investigate the matter. The residents claimed also that they are willing to assist in handing over illegal weapons, but there needs to be equality, as other communities also need to hand over their guns.

Member of Parliament, Olivia Grange, who was at the meeting, told the residents that she has been in dialogue with the police and is pleased with how St. Catherine North, under the command of Harry Daley, is communicating with young people, through various workshops and meetings.