Mark Beckord, Gleaner Writer

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Leon Rose (left), in discussion with Donovan Betancourt, facilities manager, Digicel, at the Jamaica Constabulary Force's 19th annual Neighbourhood Watch Conference at the University of Technology, St. Andrew, on Saturday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Major plans are afoot to resuscitate the national Neighbourhood Watch Movement to help battle crime.

These plans were revealed last weekend at the 19th annual Neighbourhood Watch Conference, at the University of Technology, St. Andrew

The Neighbourhood Watch Movement, an arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force community relations unit, has seen major decline over the past few years with only 270 of the 615 groups still active.

Telecommunication company, Digicel, has come on board to assist in reviving the movement. The company will be providing a credit facility to the Neighbourhood Watch Movement, as well as repairing and replacing defective Neighbourhood Watch signs across the island.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Leon Rose says the Neighbourhood Watch Movement will be reviewed.

Retooling

"There will be a retooling and a re-organisation of the movement itself. Crime and criminality have changed in terms of pattern, scope and diversity. Therefore, the Neighbourhood Watch Movement has to be sensitised in that direction," ACP Rose said.

John Bullock, president of the National Secretariat of the Neigh-bourhood Watch Movement, is enthusiastic about the new course the programme is about to take.

He believes that cooperation between the police and citizens is vital to break the back of crime.

"I certainly feel with the team we have and the support that has been pledged by the watches throughout the island, we will be successful in having growth," he said.

Mr. Bullock also says that the movement will be taking a multi-faceted approach and public education programmes to inform the public about their duties as citizens in crime fighting.

ACP Rose says several measures have been put in place to protect witnesses or persons with informa-tion on crime.

"Neighbourhood Watch is not putting citizens at risk, we are creating conditions that protect citizens," he said.