Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

British Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker (left) chats with businessman Charles Johnston at the reception. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

British Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker visited Jamaica recently and was hosted by the high commissioner on Tuesday evening at the official residence.

Part of Coaker's job is to focus on crime reduction and the main reason for his visit was to liaise with Jamaican human rights groups as well as government and opposition members on issues dealing with crime.

He marvelled that the problems were similar in both countries. He added that whatever crime plans were created, they would have to involve the community members and get the people to trust the police again.

Resumé

Coaker was previously parliamentary private secretary to the minister for culture, media and sport, and served in a similar capacity to the secretary of state for education. He has been member of Parliament for Gedling in Nottinghamshire since 1997. He is also a former teacher.

Guests out included European Union head of delegation in Jamaica, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni; Chief Justice Zaila McCalla; Phil and Eroleen Powell; Mark Shields; Brian Bark; Sydian Brissett; Professor Anthony Clayton and Blair Bobyk.

Donna Parchment, of the Dispute Resolution Foundation, discusses matters with British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell (centre) and British Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker.

Carla Bates (left) and Kamella Emmanuel are out to welcome visiting British Home Office Minister Vernon Coakerat a reception at the British High Commission on Trafalgar Road, St Andrew, on Tuesday.

British High Commission staff member, Mike Holland, chills out with friend, Eroleen Anderson-Powell, whose beau also works with the high commission.

Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne (left) chats with (from left) British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell, British Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker and Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, at the reception.