Klao Bell, Staff Reporter
THE police high command is now in possession of a list of names of members of the Police Force, whom it is alleged, received motor vehicles from a reputed don in Manchester.
Audley Shaw, deputy leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday that he has given, to top Manchester police officers, a list with the names of four members of the Police Force who have been given cars to drive by a don in the parish.
Mr. Shaw, who is also Member of Parliament for north-east Manchester, along with Norman Horne, JLP caretaker for central Manchester, held a meeting on Thursday with Assistant Commissioner of Police Carlton Maddix, Senior Superintendent E. H. Rose and Superintendent John Mitchell of the Manchester police.
When contacted by The Sunday Gleaner Mr. Shaw said, "Yes, I have given that list to the police but I do not intend to make the names public. My intention is not to carry out a persecution of anyone, it is a matter for the police to handle internally."
The Sunday Gleaner was unable to make direct contact with ACP Maddix but the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) confirmed that the meeting did take place and that they were in receipt of certain information.
Sergeant Sonia James of the CCN who spoke with ACP Maddix and confirmed that the meeting was held, was unable to give details.
"They had a meeting and information previously requested was provided at that time," Sergeant James said.
According to Mr. Shaw, the information he provided was based on evidence that police personnel were either driving cars owned by or rented from a noted Manchester don.
"In one case, a police officer is now applying to the police high command for a 20 per cent duty-concession on a 2002 BMW which costs $3.5 million. This request is in the possession of the high command," Mr. Shaw charged.
The JLP deputy indicated that the tracks indicating ownership of the cars may be covered as the cars might not be registered in the name of the purported don.
He also complained to the top cops that two senior police officers in the parish were "compromised by their association with persons of dubious character."
The Manchester MP said the meeting was also a forum to express other concerns including reported incidents of intimidation and threats against members of the JLP.
"There are certain elements trying to introduce negative politics in the arena. Mr. Horne has been intimidated, threatened and warned not to go into certain districts. We also identified to the police some of the persons issuing these threats," Mr. Shaw said.
Mr. Shaw first criticised Manchester police last month and claimed then to have the list of names. He said he was visited at his home by three members of the Special Branch to whom he gave the information and was surprised that nothing had come out of it. The meeting last Thursday was initiated by ACP Maddix who had written a letter to Mr. Shaw.
"The police force must uphold the law as the last line of defence in the preservation of democracy. The police will have to assert themselves to make sure the underworld doesn't take over," Mr. Shaw said.
