Phillips: Police will continue curfews in violence-prone areas. - File DR. PETER Phillips, the Minister of National Security, says the security forces will be confronting the growing migration of organised criminals from Kingston to other sections of the country, by turning the spotlight on the highways and byways in order to thwart their free movement.
He said the security forces would be continuing curfews and other operations in the main crime areas and move into other areas as the need arose.
Dr. Phillips, responding in a broadcast to the nation last night, to the latest upsurge in crime as well as public criticism about the Government's response, said a challenge that had emerged as the security forces took hold of volatile communities and tackled criminal gangs, had been the growing migration of organised criminal elements to other sections of the country.
DYNAMIC STRATEGIES
"The next phase of the crime-fighting measures will be to squarely confront their new modus operandi," he said. "We have emphasised since the outset that our strategies must be dynamic and responsive to the changing tactics of these criminals, who dispose of enormous resources."
In that regard, he said, the recently-formed Organised Crime Investigating Division, a combination of the skills and human resources of three crime-fighting divisions, has been upgraded and given more autonomy.
It is this new unit that will focus on the migratory pattern of crime, which Dr. Phillips said posed a new challenge to both the security forces and communities that up to now were not associated with crime.
"Much emphasis will be placed on curbing the movement of criminals across the country," the minister said.
The OCID, headed by a Senior Superintendent of Police, is to be equipped with its own resources and would incorporate the fugitive apprehension and gang intelligence units, Dr. Phillips said. In addition, it would include six sub-teams, headed by senior gazetted ranks targeting a range of areas, including gangs, 'dons' and extortion; stolen motor vehicle, anti-carjacking and cop killers; illegal firearms and ammunition; vice and sex crimes, as well as data processing and cyber crime investigation.
CURBING CRIMINAL MOVEMENTS
"In view of the spotlight that will be turned on the highways and byways in order to thwart the free movement of criminal elements, I would urge members of the public to adhere to road traffic regulations," Dr. Phillips said.
Also, Dr. Phillips addressed the growing debate over comments by Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, that the crime plan initiated by the police had not met its target.
"During the past weeks, there seems to have been some confusion and misinterpretation with regard to comments by the Commissioner in relation to the effect of these measures," he said.
"For the record, I would like to make it clear that far from failing, this effort has had substantial achievements in the face of tremendous challenges," he said.
In commending the security forces, he said that "in many areas they have become community-builders, working with well-thinking citizens, children and sports teams in a real show of solidarity and support."
Dr. Phillips said there have been only three "bad months for murder" this year.
Pointing to the accomplishments of the security forces, he said major crimes were down by nearly 30 per cent during the first three months of this year. However, during April, June and July, there were sharp increases, which virtually erased the gains in the statistics of the first three months, Dr. Phillips said.
According to the National Security Minister, in this, the eighth month of the year, major crimes were down by 11 per cent and murders, by three per cent. "The highest number of murders occurred in June, in the week of the Local Government elections," he said.
In listing some of the achievements of the eight-month-old crime plan, he said that 18 criminal gangs had been dismantled and a dozen more disrupted; and 36 per cent more firearms and 80 per cent more ammunition recovered than in 2002.
Dr. Phillips said that among his ministry's achievements during the past year was the introduction of IONSCAN technology at the airports, leading to a 74 per cent reduction in the number of drug swallowers leaving the country.
"This trade was threatening to ruin Jamaica's reputation overseas as well as the national airline," he said. Additionally, in commending the Police Narcotics Division, he said its law enforcement activities had resulted in "some diversion" of the drug business away from local shores.
