The High Command of the
Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is making a major pitch for plea bargaining
legislation, already passed, to be implemented, to combat the activities of
criminal gangs in Jamaica.
The relevant legislation was passed in 2005, but has not yet taken effect because of procedural delays.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, who is in charge of Operations, contends that this law would be one of the most effective tools in a new effort to dismantle the gangs.
According to DCP Ellington, police statistics and intelligence reports indicate that more than eighty percent of violent crimes in Jamaica are linked to gangs.
He contends that many of these gangs could be broken up if particular members, when arrested were enticed to provide evidence against other members of the group.
"No one knows more about the criminal activities of organized groups than members and if we're able to incarcerate members who are threatened with long prison sentences and they can be persuaded, as a bargain for reduced sentence, to provide law enforcement with evidence about the involvement of others in organized crime. That's a more productive approach than trying to infiltrate some gangs with decent individuals who may be exposed to serious danger or ethical and moral challenges," said DCP Ellington.
Private sector should be aware of gangs
The police are warning that the threat posed by gangs to the established order in Jamaica is a significant and growing one.
Already, it is estimated that there are 180 criminal gangs operating in the country, with new ones springing up on a regular basis; even in schools.
And while fingers are often pointed at corrupt public officers as facilitators of some gang activities, the senior police officer is also warning against the possible involvement of legitimate private businesses.
"Criminals look to the public sector for facilitation and they look to the private sector for accommodation and to the extent that they look to the private sector, they're actually looking for opportunities to launder ill-gotten gains," said DCP Ellington
He was speaking Wednesday to senior journalists about these and other concerns and sought to enlist the support of the media in the ongoing fight against criminality in Jamaica.
Underlying that appeal is the stark statistic - 13,751 murders committed in Jamaica over the last 10 years, 1999 to September 2009.
In the meantime, Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is again lamenting that criminals are arming themselves with the latest communication and other technology-driven devices to evade police drag nets, and the police force can't keep up.
Commissioner Lewin pointed to difficulties the Force experiences attempting to get technical information from cellular service providers for the purpose of criminal investigations.
The relevant legislation was passed in 2005, but has not yet taken effect because of procedural delays.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, who is in charge of Operations, contends that this law would be one of the most effective tools in a new effort to dismantle the gangs.
According to DCP Ellington, police statistics and intelligence reports indicate that more than eighty percent of violent crimes in Jamaica are linked to gangs.
He contends that many of these gangs could be broken up if particular members, when arrested were enticed to provide evidence against other members of the group.
"No one knows more about the criminal activities of organized groups than members and if we're able to incarcerate members who are threatened with long prison sentences and they can be persuaded, as a bargain for reduced sentence, to provide law enforcement with evidence about the involvement of others in organized crime. That's a more productive approach than trying to infiltrate some gangs with decent individuals who may be exposed to serious danger or ethical and moral challenges," said DCP Ellington.
Private sector should be aware of gangs
The police are warning that the threat posed by gangs to the established order in Jamaica is a significant and growing one.
Already, it is estimated that there are 180 criminal gangs operating in the country, with new ones springing up on a regular basis; even in schools.
And while fingers are often pointed at corrupt public officers as facilitators of some gang activities, the senior police officer is also warning against the possible involvement of legitimate private businesses.
"Criminals look to the public sector for facilitation and they look to the private sector for accommodation and to the extent that they look to the private sector, they're actually looking for opportunities to launder ill-gotten gains," said DCP Ellington
He was speaking Wednesday to senior journalists about these and other concerns and sought to enlist the support of the media in the ongoing fight against criminality in Jamaica.
Underlying that appeal is the stark statistic - 13,751 murders committed in Jamaica over the last 10 years, 1999 to September 2009.
In the meantime, Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is again lamenting that criminals are arming themselves with the latest communication and other technology-driven devices to evade police drag nets, and the police force can't keep up.
Commissioner Lewin pointed to difficulties the Force experiences attempting to get technical information from cellular service providers for the purpose of criminal investigations.
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