Fix Critical Structures By DS

It is clear that over the years Jamaica House has been CLUELESS as to how to fight crime while crime robs us of 6% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.

What is the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) doing to force the government to fix the critical structures that are required to fix crime?

In order to fight crime there must be thoroughness and completeness, foresight and fortitude in the Minister of National Security’s undertakings. This is not the time for cherry picking. He must take on board all ideas that make sense in his attempt to fight crime.  Jamaica House, however, has turned a blind eye to the critical structures that must be fixed in order to fight crime.

Here are a few examples:

1.   The 119/911 help line is a disaster. Jamaica House knows that this can  be easily remedied and has turned a blind eye

The 119/911 help line cannot be a success story while it remains under the control of the Police without checks, balances and accountability.

I therefore recommend the following

a. The 119/911 help line must be under the control of an independent  body who must be MANDATED to record the number of answered’   and‘non- answered ‘calls made by the 119 operator to police stations   requesting help for civilians.  A log of those police stations that allow   calls to go answered must be reported to the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police on a weekly basis for corrective action which must include disciplinary action. The Minister of National Security and the Commissioner must be kept up-to-date  whether the Barnett Street, Annotto Bay Police Stations are not   answering and responding to calls for  help  Sometimes, civilian calls are  ignored and we must, now, know who is lying. Is it the civilians calling for help or is it the Police.

b.  Calls to 119/911 must be recorded automatically by an automatedsystem, similarly to what exists in North America. The 119/911 help line is not a confidential line. Crime stop numbers offers confidentiality. The operator must be trained to deal with emergencies and give advice until the Police arrive.

c.          Upgrade the 119/911 help line to include a 119-smart helpline which allows the callers to optionally add their addresses to a  data bank which    will be displayed to the 119/911 operator  when a call is made similarly to what exists in the USA. This is excellent for pensioners and the elderly.

2.        Jamaica needs a Ballistic Machine to identify the weapons used against civilians. Preferably, this machine must not be under the   control of the police who  may prefer to keep it nonfunctional.

This machine would assist INDECOM much. Nevertheless,         Jamaica  House turns a blind eye, spending and wasting money         on other items  they think the Police needs.

3.       Jamaica needs ‘GUNBUSTERS’ Firearms Pulverizer machines that actually pulverizes guns. Too many of the guns taken off the streets return to the hands of criminals by rogue cops.  Again, Jamaica House knows that this can be easily remedied and turns a blind eye.

4.           The DNA data bank that is being advocated by government cannot be under the control of the Police. There must be checks, balances and accountability put in place. Jamaica  House knows that this is so but remains silent.

The role of the Police is to collect DNA samples from civilians and send them to the laboratory to garner a match and not the safekeeping   and storage of DNA samples. The laboratory must be carefully supervised by an independent body such as INDECOM.

5.           Hold regular meetings with INDECOM so as to ascertain the tools it need and legislation it requires to effectively monitor and improve the       brand of the Jamaica Constabulary Force           (JCF).

6.        Rename the Jamaica Constabulary Force to the Jamaica Police Service

7.        The wearing of masks and the concealment of identification numbers must be made illegal by legislation brought to the Parliament. The wearing of masks and the concealment of  identification numbers is a poor reflection on the Minister of National Security since he is RESPONSIBLE for setting the policies of the JCF. By bringing legislation to the Parliament such practice must attract adverse punishment which must include the termination of service if caught interacting with members of the public with concealed identification numbers and wearing masks.

We have always allowed ourselves to be hoodwinked and allow Commissioners of Police to pull wool over our eyes and let us believe that this practice is NECESSARY for the few rogue policemen that are among them carrying out the operations of the JCF but for the other policemen who behave like good apples, the practice of wearing masks is not necessary.

8.           From time to time the Jamaica Constabulary Force has refused  to cooperate with INDECOM with IMPUNITY such as not handing over toINDECOM S guns used in civilian killings or disallowing, INDECOM, visits to lock-ups at police stations.This is a poor reflection on the Minister of National Security since he isRESPONSIBLE for setting the policies of the JCF. By bringing legislation to the Parliament such practice must attract adverse punishment which must include the termination of service.

9.           Upgrade the image of the Jamaica Constabulary College at Twickenham Park, Spanish Town from a well-known ‘squaddie  centre’ to a college that trains graduates that are well trained and are highly sought after for employment in the Cayman  Islands and other  common  wealth countries, similarly to demand for  our nurses and teachers.

10.    Upgrade the rundown communities of Montego Bay. Provide them with good roads, water and electricity.

11.    Embark on beautification projects. Develop ‘green spaces’.

12.    Provide EASY ACCESS to training for detached youths.

13.     We give enormous powers to judges, phone companies,   policemen to act with impunity without checks, balances and accountability or any   consequence for breaches of their authority to tap the phones of Jamaicans This is frightening because it reflects the Government’s low regard for  the rights of the ‘dirty, torn -up trousers man’. I am therefore  recommending the following:

 a.    Eavesdropping can be the favorite past time for some  persons. Therefore, penalties such as the cancellation of  licences be handed down by the courts  to the phone companies, that allow the Police to wiretap the phones of Jamaican citizens without the documented approval by the courts

b.           All wire taps must be done within a specified time.  Documented approval must be given by the courts  for any extension of time

c.           Remedies be awarded to Jamaican citizens if the phone companies illegally wiretap their phones without the documented approval of the courts

d.           The termination of service of any member of the Police Force without pension benefits for illegally wiretapping thephones of citizens.

e.           Proper records must be kept of phones tapped by the phone companies

Regards,

D.S.

St. Andrew