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Teen girls faking kidnappings, says JCF

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Detective Inspector Paulette Wynter-Crossfield and Detective Sergeant Grace Frazer-Lawrence
 
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is a warning of a worrying trend, where some teen girls are staging kidnappings to spend a prolonged period with their male friends. 
 
Station Manager at the National Strategic Anti-Gang Division, Detective Inspector Paulette Wynter-Crossfield, says whenever these teens want to return home, they ask someone to contact their family members to say they have been kidnapped and demand a ransom.
 
Speaking on a recent episode of the JCF's Force4Good podcast, Detective Inspector Wynter-Crossfield said 18 cases were reported last year. Of that number, she explained that two were genuine, but in all cases, people returned home safely.
 
"We have to investigate all cases until the alleged hostage is returned home, whether it be fake or not," she noted. 
 
This year, the detective inspector said, there have been four cases - two of them genuine - and six people have been charged. 
 
The police are warning teenagers who are faking their kidnappings that they could end up in trouble with the law. 
 
Sub-officer within the division, Detective Sergeant Grace Frazer-Lawrence, who was also a guest on the podcast, said some of these individuals have been prosecuted for creating public mischief.
 
"Creating public mischief is what is classified as what you can be charged with, right? Because of course, we are going to use the resources of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to try and bring you home safely. And whilst we're investigating, even though we assume nothing, but still, whilst we're investigating...we still have to make sure that the hostage, so-called hostage, is returned safely. And upon doing that and using our resources, yes, we prosecute when necessary," she warned. 
 
In a case in Manchester in June 2023, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who had been reported missing, was charged with creating public mischief, after she fabricated being kidnapped along with a ransom demand to cover up her out-of-parish trip to visit her boyfriend.


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