By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterTROUBLED BY the increasing cases of homicides and shootings in the Corporate Area, St. Catherine and St. Andrew, the top brass of Area 4 and 5 police divisions have reshaped their crime fighting strategies in an attempt to put a dent in criminal activities across the parishes.
Reports are that the crime initiatives, which became effective on Monday, follow a 30-day crime plan submitted to Police Commissioner Francis Forbes by acting assistant commissioners George Williams of Area 5 and Owen Ellington of Area 4.
INTENSIFIED SURVEILLANCE
Area 5 covers the St. Andrew North Police Division, the parishes of St. Catherine and St. Thomas, while Area 4 covers the St. Andrew South, Kingston West, Central and East divisions.
"We have intensified our surveillance on all the major criminals and dons in Area 5," Mr. Williams told The Gleaner.
The acting assistant commissioner said that personnel were now involved in more strategic raids targeting car-jackers.
"Our objective is to reduce all major crimes," he said.
Since January, more than 225 persons have been killed in separate incidents across the island. Reprisals and domestic disputes top the list of the types of killings.
Acting ACP Ellington told The Gleaner on Tuesday, that he had implemented a number of programmes which he will be working with in the various divisions, for example, anywhere a shooting or murder occurs, the police are to re-visit that section of the community at least 16 times per day.
Over the past two days, the police have increased their presence in high crime concentrated areas.
The 30-day crime plan also includes vehicular check points at divisional borders, which is meant to restrict the movement of criminals. There is also a move to saturate communities that were recently disrupted by violence with police personnel.
"Some of these communities have been identified as Payne Avenue, Compound in Olympic Gardens, Mountain View Avenue and Seaview Gardens," said Mr. Ellington.
