Commissioner highlights crime-reduction strategy

The following are the key elements of policing activities under the nation's crime-reduction plan, as released yesterday by acting Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington.

1. High-visibility uniformed patrols and presence in communities and commercial areas to provide reassurance to citizens while deterring criminal activities.

2. Covert patrols and presence to take advantage of the element of surprise in apprehending criminals with evidence.

3. Coordinated stop and search activities; vehicle check points and road block operations aimed at disrupting the movement of criminals, while intercepting the movement of guns, drugs and stolen commodities.

4. Aggressive road policing and traffic law enforcement to reduce the influence of criminals on the public transport sector, curtail breaches of the road traffic act and reduce traffic accidents.

5. Security and stability operations in crime hotspots to reduce incidence of criminal violence, arson and intimidation.

6. Coordinated counter gang activities aimed at disrupting, displacing and apprehending gang members with evidence sufficient to secure convictions.

7. Expansion of community based policing in stable communities to deliver consistent police services to citizens.

8. Expansion of the School Safety Programme to reduce school violence, drug abuse and the influence of criminal gangs on school communities.

9. Proactive investigation, targeting crimes for profit such as narcotics trafficking; gunrunning; extortion/protection rockets; illegal trading in contraband and counterfeit goods; illegal gambling and involvement of children in criminal activities.

10. Reactive investigations aimed at improving cleared up rates for homicides, shootings, robbery, break-ins, larceny and sexual offences.

11. Targeted policing to secure and boost confidence in critical sectors such as tourism; agriculture; construction; commerce and transportation.

12. Expansion of partnership programmes in peace building through collaboration with the Peace Management Initiative; local authorities; community-based groups and neighbourhood watch schemes.

13. Expansion of the Police Youth Club and Mentorship programme aimed at diverting vulnerable young persons from involvement in criminal gang activities.

14. Nuisance Abatement programmes aimed at illegal vending; overnight parking; night noise control and curtailing of hooligan behaviour. This includes the banning of some regularly staged dances and parties that disturb the peace and tranquility in communities.

15. The expansion of our intelligence input to investigative and operational policing to achieve greater focus on critical crime targets such as gangs; trafficking syndicates; groups at risk and crime hotspots.

16. A programme of nationally driven strategies have been rolled out to confront major crime challenges which transcend division boundaries and in some cases national borders. These include:

• Counter narcotics control strategy
  
• National gun control programme
  
• Anti-extortion strategy
  
• Anti-kidnapping Strategy
  
• Praedial Larceny Prevention Strategy
  
• Pro-active Investigation Strategy
  
• Stolen motor vehicle recovery strategy