Importance of Police Youth Clubs
published: Thursday | January 30, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WRITE to congratulate the Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes and his staff on the inclusion of police youth clubs in their crime prevention/youth rehabilitation programme.
During the 1950s/1960s, the police youth club movement (headed by a Senior Superinten-dent Miller and his assistants) was a very dynamic affiliate of the Jamaica Youth Clubs Council and participated in sporting academic, social, camping and all aspects of the youth clubs programme both preventive and therapeutic. Especially do I recall the vigour and dynamism of the Fletchers Land and Montego Bay youth clubs at that time. The excitement exhibited at the Saturday morning boxing sessions at Elletson Road police grounds and the Friday nights 'supervised dances' at the Piccadilly Youth Centre.
Unfortunately, changing ad-ministrations, staff attrition, shifting emphases and values resulted in the demise of police youth clubs.
But the good news is that they are back and will certainly enhance community programmes and excite young people in several areas to have a positive effect on the youth. I wish them well Bravo, Commish.
