Police Commissioner Francis Forbes (right) conversing with Deputy Commissioner Tilford Johnson during a press coference held at the Police Officer's Club in Kingston yesterday. - Junior DowiePOLICE COMMISIONER Francis Forbes yesterday unveiled aspects of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) crime fighting plan for 2002, including special measures to tackle juvenile involvement.
While noting the significant increase in gun murders and reported cases of shooting, the Commissioner also said the issue of youth involvement in crime had raised serious concerns.
"There is an increase in the number of youths who are falling victims to crime as well as youths who are linked to crime. More youths seem to be taking knives to school and there have been several arrests of youths either on their way to school or from school who are in illegal possession of firearm. This is something that will be given special attention by us this year," Commissioner Forbes said.
According to police records, of the 3,558 persons arrested and charged last year in connection with major crimes, 912 were under age 20.
A breakdown shows that 128 of the juveniles were charged with murder. Two girls were among the 149 teenagers charged with shooting, 199 for robbery, 256 for break-ins.
"We will be focusing more on the prevention side," said Commissioner Forbes.
Police personnel from the Community Relations Division are expected to increase their presence at schools, by getting involved in programmes, especially to deal with conflicts.
The Commissioner also said that the Marine Division will be beefed up with additional vessels and the Narcotics Division expanded to continue its fight against drug smuggling.
"We are expecting assistance in training in terms of new strategies for gathering intelligence and for the interdiction of major narcotic traffickers. The use of Narcotics detection dogs on our ports has continued to yield positive results and our co-operation with law enforcement officials in the United Kingdom will continue at the highest level during this year, to reduce the number of drug mules and apprehend the big people who are behind this increasing trend," the Commissioner said.
Another of the recommendations of the PERF Reports is to be implemented soon. That is to upgrade the Mobile Reserve which will act as an umbrella to all the special units. The Commissioner also hinted that the controversial Crime Manage-ment Unit (CMU) might soon be phased out consequent on a recent review of its operations that had been ordered..
He declined however to release the recommendations of the team that did the review.
In the meantime, security guards are expected to work closely with the police, based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the groups. The lawmen said they will also recruit 1,000 police personnel over an 18-month period.
