Michelle-Ann Letman, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Assistant Commissioner of Police Denver Frater holds aloft a picture of three of the country's most-wanted men during a press briefing last year, at the police commissioner's office. The men in the picture are Cedric Murray (left), a.k.a. 'Doggy', Eldon Calvert (centre) and Robert Brown, a.k.a. 'Denero'. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

There are over 600 neighbourhood watch programmes over the island driven by the police.

CRIMINALS OFTEN select some of the most upscale neighbourhoods and rural communities across the island as their preferred places of residence. Some, disguised as returning residents, visitors or even wealthy businessmen, seek refuge from the law in these areas, while still engaged in illegal acts.

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Denver Frater says he is imploring citizens of Jamaica to practise a 'know your neighbour-policy', because one can never be sure who one's neighbour is.

The senior police officer says that he cannot overemphasise the importance of this practice. "Miss Joan should know Miss Mary, and when a strange face turns up in the community, Miss Joan should know if the person is Miss Mary's nephew," he stresses.

This proactive approach, ACP Frater notes, will make citizens more alert when a stranger takes up residence in their community.

Neighbourhood watch groups, he says, are most effective in identifying strangers and suspicious activities.

Police community relations also play an integral role in effective community policing, ACP Frater tells The Sunday Gleaner. "We encourage and sponsor neighbour-hood watches to better foster a community that looks out for each other," he says.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Marilyn Wilson-Christie, endorsing the 'know-your neigh-bour' approach to maintaining safe communities, says the maxim, 'You are your brother's keeper', should be reinforced.

She says that the police have been conducting training sessions in communities across the island to inform residents and make them aware of ways to report suspicious activities.

Culture of fear

"They (the residents) should not assume that all is well. They must always be vigilant and make inquiries," she states, adding that there are just over 600 neighbour-hood watch programmes over the island driven by the police.

However, DSP Christie tells The Sunday Gleaner that some of the neighbourhood watch associations have become dormant over the years, but the aim is to revive them. She also notes that the Neighbourhood Watch Initiative is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

DSP Christie cites a number of reasons for some of the neighbourhood watch groups being inactive over the past 10 years. "Some members have become complacent, some community leaders who were the driving force behind the watch have migrated. Generally, citizens are afraid to communicate with the police, fearing they will be labelled as 'informas'," says DSP Christie.

She is determined to revamp the dormant neighbourhood watch associations, stating that the police will use the Church and schools as a platform for public education campaign.