Macmiillan

Dionne Rose, Parliamentary Reporter

Newly-appointed Opposition Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan has expressed concerns about the reduction in the crime rate, claiming that unreported crime has become a major problem.

He raised the concerns while responding to statements made by Government Senator Noel Monteith, in the Senate yesterday, Monteith reeled off statistics showing recent reductions in crime and also applauded organisations such as the the Peace Management Initiative for the role they were playing.

But MacMillan, a former commissioner of police, said that while he agreed that these organisations should be applauded for their work, he had reservations as it related to the statistics.

"I am suggesting to you that unreported crimes in Jamaica is a major problem. We have to be very wary when we start to quote stats, except for murder, because that is a real thing," he said.

No consolation

Senator MacMillan said the reduction in crime, while good, was still "no consolation" as it was still too high.

He said the police have to earn the respect of the Jamaican people to address the problem. He said that people in the community because they cannot relate to the police, sometimes are reluctant to report the crimes.

"People must be very wary and not rest on their laurels that murders have gone down by 25 or 30 per cent. The fact of the matter is that it is till too high," he said.

He, however, noted that the major problem facing the police force was resources and said that at a later date, he would address the issue in detail.