Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer
Falmouth, Trelawny:
Divisional Commander of Trelawny, Superintendent Linnett Williams-Martin, says the various outreach programmes implemented by her team have resulted in a significant reduction in crime in the parish for the first six months of 2006 when compared with the same period last year.
"We have taken a multiagency approach in dealing with the problem of crime in Trelawny. This approach has led to a 35 per reduction in murders," reported the Superintendent.
She believes the apprehension of Robert McLean, otherwise called 'Gigsy' and Donovan Brown, otherwise called 'Copper', the respective leaders of the rival gangs in Falmouth, along with a number of their henchmen, has resulted in the reduction of the incidents of shootings.
"This tells me that we are doing something right," the law officer commented.
There has been a 95 per cent reduction in the incidents normally associated with the 'Bend Down Market' in Falmouth, which she credited to increased foot patrols on Wednesdays, frequent raids and mobile patrols.
She told The Sunday Gleaner that she is now looking into other activities at the popular market.
"When a consumer can get a tin of corned beef for $20.00, when the regular price is almost $100, something is wrong somewhere," the superintendent said. "It is possible that these items are stolen or were condemned by the Ministry of Health. If you notice, most, if not all of these items ... are sold by persons from outside of the parish."
With close attention being placed on schools with increased reports of violence, Supt. Williams-Martin stated that greater attention would be placed on those institutions.
improving the
education situation
She expressed concerned about problems being experienced at high schools in the parish, especially Muschett High School, adding that plans were in place to improve the situation during the next school year.
Supt. Williams-Martin said the people of Trelawny are fortunate to have such a dedicated set of officers serving them. "The police here hardly report sick and continue to give 100 per cent despite the conditions they have to work under, and I must say thanks to them," she said.
"However, our motivation comes from the appreciation we are shown by our citizens for a job well done," she added. "I must say thanks to our community members who have kept us mobile, those who have assisted us in solving crimes by giving us information and our multiagency partners."
Among the programmes implemented in the division are:
A back-to-school programme - Assisting students in the area in preparing for school and monitoring their progress throughout the school term;
The Starfish programme - Job training, certification and possible employment;
The Heart Trust programme - Youths are assisted in enrolling in the varied programmes offered by HEART Trust;
Church services - Each month a team of police personnel visits a church in one of the communities;
Community meetings - Regular meetings are held in each community, with positive responses from community members.
There has been
an 95 per cent reduction in the incidents normally associated with
the 'Bend Down Market' in Falmouth, which she credited to increased foot patrols on Wednesdays, frequent raids and mobile patrols.
