The Trelawny police believe the absence of social-intervention programmes in troubled communities could render crime-fighting efforts meaningless.

Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum in the parish last Thursday, Detective Sergeant Keeble Simmonds said projects initiated by the police division's hierarchy in select communities have borne fruit, but much more needs to be done.

"We have something going currently within the Race Course area and it has been very successful," he said. "Race Course, at one point, was our major point of concern, but we have not had a murder or shooting in that area since January or February of this year."

However, Simmonds argued that such success demands greater responsibility and the calm that now exists in the area might be under threat because social conditions have not been improved.

"The guys (who were involved in criminal acts) are still there and the social conditions still exist," he said.

Migrating elements

"There are elements coming over in Trelawny, as we speak, but we have activated our own intelligence network in the division, and we have been successful."

Pointing to the January capture of notorious Stone Crusher gang leader, Eldon Calvert, and the recent fatal shooting of Orlando Minto, who escaped custody while being transported from the Horizon Remand Centre in April, as examples, Simmonds said the cops are committed.

"We are cognisant of the plans afoot as it relates to the whole issue of development for Trelawny and the police recognise that it is going to require tremendous effort on our part, both human and physical resources, and we are working feverishly to address that," the police sergeant said.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's website, 20 murders were reported in Trelawny between January and August of this year, with 11 cleared up. This compares with four of 15 killings in the division being solved in 2007. Fourteen shootings have been reported from January to August 2008, with eight cases being cleared up. Last year, 12 reported cases were cleared up in 2007.

The police in Falmouth have been forced to work under repulsive circumstances, as the current building was declared unfit years ago. On January 20, 2005, a contract estimated at $220 million was signed between the Govern-ment and Ashtrom Building Systems Ltd for the construction of a new '100-Man Station'.

The first-rate facility, which is expected to accommodate a crime-investigation branch, traffic unit, radio-control unit, canine and marine divisions, a holding area for seized vehicles, recreational facilities, a regional remand centre and a cafeteria, is yet to be completed.

"The morale of our police officers is very low and there is tremendous cause for concern, but we will not be deterred from the challenges that confront us and I believe we are succeeding.

"We have been eagerly anticipating its completion for some time now. It is impacting upon us and we really would like to get out of there," he said. "... personnel have been working nonetheless, but we hope the authorities will see it fit to accelerate the development."

Project delay

Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Dr Patrick Harris, when pressed for a timeline for its completion, said the facility should be completed in six months.

"The delay has been caused by many different problems, from sewage to roads, among other challenges, but that has been sorted out and what is left to be done is the tiling, windows and roofing of the building and I believe it can be achieved," Harris told The Gleaner.

Since 2005, the parish saw an increase in gang warfare, but except for pockets of south Trelawny, that has been brought under control.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com