Erica Virtue, staff reporterSecurity guards could become the eyes and ears of the police in several areas in the country, sharing information in a co-ordinated approach to fight crime.
This, if the 21-member companies in the Jamaica Society of Industrial Security (JSIS) and the police agree on proposals for a working alliance between them.
A proposal is currently on the table, but it has not yet been ratified to enable both to exchange information about potential threats of criminal elements in areas they serve.
Under the proposal, the staff-short Police Force would be able to count on the services of more than 15,000 security guards, sharing information through a special communication system. They may also share specific equipment. The Force is short of about 2,500, according to Cpl. Steve Brown, General Secretary of the Police Federation.
The four-point Memorandum of Understanding proposes that the shared information will be classified to protect companies and security officers, a special method of communication will be worked out and used; selected persons from both organisations will be responsible for the collation and dissemination of information, and participating security companies and officers will be briefed on the proper methods of making security observations.
The terms of reference proposed, say participation will be voluntary with a core of senior management from both entities meeting monthly to evaluate the process with both bodies briefing security officers as to their role and expectation within the process.
National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips hopes that the partnership will encourage pride and participation in the country's affairs, and the information exchanged will avert impending danger.
"The security companies can help the police because they have a lot of persons on the ground and in communities. So they can be a source of information, in addition to other efforts by the police to get information," Dr. Phillips said.
In an interview, he explained that both the JCF and the JSIS will properly vet companies that wish to become a part of the joint initiative.
The exchange of information, will not be free flow, but will filter through, "a board from which they can exchange ideas and co-ordinate activities," the Minister said.
He further explained that, "There may be situations where even their resources could be used to assist the police in other operational ways, including ways for them to make communication."
Dr. Phillips said he hoped that the partnership will work.
"They (police and security companies) are going to take on simple things first, see what is possible. Then you evaluate it, and expand it, if necessary..."
Asked if the police, which is short of manpower, could recruit from participating security companies, he said, "We have not really reached that part yet, but the police are recruiting and qualified persons are free to come on board."
However The Sunday Gleaner understands that while the security companies agree in principle that there should be greater collaboration with the security forces, there are fears among some members.
"We have to be careful how we express the arrangement, because we have always shared information with the security forces, but it will be more formalised now," a member of a private security company said. She expressed the fear that, "security guards may be seen as informers, because they could be targeted by criminal elements."
She said the current agreement will be no different from other police efforts that are anonymous.
The timetable for the companies to sign off on the agreement could not be ascertained last week. The Sunday Gleaner was unable to contact Commander George Overton of Dirks Security and Mr. Ainsley Edwards of Wilberhall Dog Kennels Limited, who were part of the group which met with the Minister; Elaine Baker, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security and Deputy Commissioner S. Brooks, to develop the working plan for the two bodies.
The proposal was one of 12-points outlined by Dr. Phillips last week, in an address to the nation, as the Government's new and improved initiatives to fight crime.
