Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE police in Western Jamaica are dispelling the myth that they cannot enter some communities, particularly those in the inner cities.
In a series of interviews with officers last week, all confirmed that they had no problems accessing any communities in that region. In fact, the Community Relations arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been making remarkable strides in its quest to win and regain the public's confidence, police sources said.
According to Superintendent Jasmine Tomlinson-Brown, who has overall responsibility for Trelawny, there is a vibrant "walk-about" programme in her division, which sees to frequent interaction between the police and residents.
She said a Mobile Guardroom Programme has also been established whereby police walk into communities deemed inaccessible by vehicles.
"There are instances where we come up against bad roads, but either way, we have to do police work," she stated.
Detective Deputy Superintendent Roy Boyd, the crime chief for St. James also said that the police in that division had no difficulty policing communities. He said there were times when they encountered rocky terrain which made mobile patrol impossible, but despite this, they still go into the communities when duty calls.
DSP Boyd and his deputy, Inspector Rupert Gardener, admitted that areas such as the informal squatter settlement of Providence Heights in Flankers and the inner-city community of Canterbury, were among the communities which made vehicular patrolling difficult.
But despite the reputation that Canterbury carved for itself as a volatile community, DSP Boyd says the majority of the residents there are law abiding. He said though, "...because of its geographic location, it gives wrongdoers an advantage on approach of the police... The many zinc fences and the winding tracks in between a cluster of houses, which provide a safe haven for criminals, could pose a danger for persons entering."
Inspector Gardener said, "We rely heavily on our community relations policing to bridge the gap in the areas perceived to be not easily accessible to police. We now find community policing very effective."
Mr. Boyd drew reference to "Gulf", a section of the Norwood informal squatter settlement. He said police personnel have been assigned in that area on a 24-hour basis. This, he said resulted in a marked reduction in crime, adding that the recent construction of roads in the area assisted them significantly in patrolling the community.
There are about 21 informal squatter settlement in St. James.
Police in Hanover are also lauding the relationship they enjoy with residents from all parts of the parish. The crime chief for Hanover - Inspector Mervin Harris - said monthly meetings are held with the police and residents of various communities which have helped to forge a good citizen/police relationship.
With a population of 66,000 and 161 districts to serve, and despite deplorable road conditions and hilly terrain, which sometimes made it difficult to get to a scene, Inspector Harris said nothing prevents the Hanover police from getting the job done.
However, he said, "Although we might have the lowest crime rate in the island, we do not take this for granted. We still make our presence felt and give service above self. We have a very good team which keeps the machinery working when it comes to community policing."
And Westmoreland's crime chief, Denver Frater, said he was not aware of any areas in the parish that is inaccessible to the police.
But Woman Corporal, Nadine Grant-Brown, who is in charge of the Chaplaincy Unit for Westmoreland, said there are some communities such as "Tivoli" and "Russia", which are considered volatile. She noted, however, that while the residents were not as receptive to some police personnel, they more readily received members of the Community Relations Department under which her section falls.
The Westmoreland police serve approximately 139,000 citizens residing in 235 districts.
Meanwhile, Superintendent in charge of St. Elizabeth -- Herman Brown told The Sunday Gleaner "We are emphasising community policing. Since I took over command in 1999, every month we participate in a church service. We have the largest choir behind Kingston. We even hold religious meetings along the road at times where we minister to civilians. Whenever we attend church services we do not only lead in songs and scripture reading, we actually have policemen who are pastors and they are called upon to preach," he noted.
Mr. Brown said through that avenue the police have managed to develop an extremely good relationship with residents of the 268 districts in the division.
