MAY PEN, Clarendon:
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER of Police Jevene Bent has appealed to residents of Clarendon to give greater support to the police in fighting crime.
"Crime is everyone's business and the support of the communities is crucial in winning this war against the crime and violence," she told those who attended the St. Gabriel's Anglican Church in May Pen for the official launch of the Clarendon police Courtesy Week.
She said statistics indicate a general decrease in violent crimes across the island, but pointed out that Clarendon was not doing too well in containing its crime problem.
Deputy Commissioner Bent, who represented Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, attributed this to the number of itinerant criminals migrating from areas like Kingston and St. Catherine to Clarendon.
"What we have found is that a lot of itinerant criminals (as) we put the pressure on them in Kingston and St. Catherine, they will find refuge in Clarendon and other parishes," the Deputy Commissioner said.
"But you must not encourage that. You must be vigilant when you see strangers and they cannot account for themselves; then you need to work with the police so we can get rid of them one way or the other," she added.
Giving his support to the Courtesy Week, Custos R. James deRoux said, "It is right and proper that we recognise the need for this." He noted that the police uniform "stands for law and order (and) carries with it tremendous power (and) demands respect." But he pointed out that "it is the wearer of the uniform who must command respect".
The Custos also lamented as unfortunate, cases of corruption, involving members of the Force.
