Witnesses to get better protection - New programme to include others involved in the judicial system BETTER PROTECTION is to be offered to witnesses of violent crimes under a revamped Witness Protection Pro-gramme, Information Minister Senator Maxine Henry-Wilson said on Tuesday. The announcement came at the same time Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes offered protection under the programme to the family of 13-year-old Janice Allen who was shot and killed during an alleged shootout between gunmen and members of the security forces during an operation in Trench Town in April 2000. The bullet which took the teenager's life was reportedly fired by a police constable. Following investigations, a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) led to the arrest of Constable Rohan Allen. Since that time, members of the family have reportedly been harassed by members of the security forces. Mrs. Henry-Wilson said on Tuesday that Cabinet had given its approval for the tabling in Parliament of the Justice Protection Act which incorporates the Witness Protection Programme. She was speaking to reporters at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. She explained that while a programme of witness protection had been in existence for a number of years, it should be under the purview of the Ministry of National Security. The current programme is run by an administrative centre and operates without any legislative framework. The legislation, according to Mrs. Henry-Wilson, would broaden the concept of witness protection to include not just witnesses but others involved in the judicial system such as jurors, lawyers, law enforcement agencies and judicial officers. It also sets out how the system should be administered, who is admissible, and the process by which they are admitted. Addition-ally, it will outline the conditions of the programme, how information is shared, and penalties where the system is violated. It addresses the question of relocation and that of relating to persons who want to quit the programme. The passing of the Bill would ensure Jamaica fulfils its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) obligation under the regional witness protection programme. Meanwhile, Commissioner Forbes has given instructions for the case involving Constable Allen to be investigated with "extreme urgency". "The Police High Command views this incident with deep concern and wishes to place on record that any member of the organisation who is guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by way of bribery or harassment of witnesses or otherwise, would have their services terminated as quickly as possible after due process and the rules of natural justice have been observed," he said. In his 2000/2001 Budget presentation, National Security Minister K. D. Knight disclosed there were about 80 people being sheltered under the programme, 98 per cent of whom were witnesses in murder trials. He said between 1997 and June 2000, evidence provided by witnesses under the programme had resulted in 60 death sentences, 32 life sentences and 22 other prison sentences. While most of the witnesses are relocated in Jamaica, in special cases persons are resettled in other Caribbean islands, the United States and Europe.
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