KNOCK ON wood! Portland, arguably the most beautiful parish, has not recorded a single case of murder since the start of the year.
That is what Police Superintendent Henry Biggs has reported, attributing this remarkable achievement to the 87,000 residents who he says have been "good citizens".
The clean murder sheet is in contrast with the toll of four murders that were recorded up to the end of April last year. As The Gleaner reported last Saturday, the parish recorded seven cases of murder in 1999; eight in 2000; 12 in 2001; and 11 in 2002.
In the context of new approaches to community policing it is interesting to note that murders in Portland, and perhaps elsewhere, have been primarily the result of domestic disputes. Against this background, Supt. Biggs says, the police officers in the Portland division have been dealing swiftly with reports of threats and conflict which could turn sour. On average the Port Antonio Police Station, one of eight others in the parish, responds to at least 10 reports of threats per day.
The police also engage the services of personnel trained in mediation and dispute resolution to deal with some of the problems reported. The record suggests that they have done very well despite inadequate resources, including manpower and a fleet of vehicles in use since 1996.
Portland's achievement is the more remarkable - or perhaps explainable - against the background of illegal drug trafficking which led to the transfer of 58 police officers in 1998.
To set the parish figures in context up to date (January to May 15) statistics available to us show that the murder toll for the Metropolitan Area comprising Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine is 225. The St. Andrew South Division heads the list with 58 murders, followed by St. Andrew Central and St. Catherine North with 45 each.
In the rural police divisions St. James and Clarendon with 28 murders each head the list out of a total 102 rural murders. Altogether the island up to May 15 has chalked up a total 327 murders, a decline from 445 for the corresponding period last year. Portland with zero has pointed the way to further decline. Knock on wood!
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
