Glenroy Sinclair
and Rasbert Turner,
Gleaner Reporters 
Clifford Blake (2nd left), Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the St. Catherine North Division, shares his views on crime-fighting at a workshop organised by the Ministry of National Security at Arian Restaurant in Spanish Town yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday launched a special crime prevention programme in the Old Capital of Spanish Town, St. Catherine, the scene of several violent incidents since the start of the year.
According to the police, of the over 107 persons killed in the St. Catherine North Division, a majority of the victims were slain in the adjoining communities of Tawes Pen, Gordon Pen, Homestead, Old Harbour Road and the commercial district of Spanish Town.
National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips told a group of residents and professionals who attended a workshop during yesterday's launch of the Spanish Town Crime Prevention Programme, that the level of criminal activity in the town was higher than the national average. "There is a severe problem," he said.
But the police yesterday cited the lack of the much promised social intervention programmes to help out the very needy, as one of the major challenges they face in their fight against the scourge sweeping the inner-city communities enveloping the town.
"Sometimes when you go into the communities people are approaching you with all sorts of problems. While we would like to assist, we do not have the resources to do so," Assistant Commissioner George Williams told the group.
He said this was where the 'dons' come in and respond to the peoples' need. He noted that by so doing, 'dons' have established an iron grip on the communities, making it difficult for the police to interact with the residents.
The police have for some time complained about the non-implementation of the social intervention programmes. Last August Prime Minister P.J. Patterson instructed Minister of Development Dr. Paul Robertson to compile a list of all projects being undertaken by the various agencies that were supposed to be part of the programme, outlining specific projects in targeted communities.
In announcing the national crime fighting plan last year, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes had disclosed that it would have been a multi-agency approach, but to date the police have received very little support.
"Most of the agencies that we were expecting to come on board have not done so," Acting Commissioner Lucuis Thomas told The Gleaner yesterday.
