Peter Phillips - File

Declaring that the country does not need a new crime plan, National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, told Jamaicans in a national broadcast last night that the Government would instead "stay the course" in its battle to defeat criminality.

The alarming murder rate, which has increased to at least 128 since the start of the year, has left many Jamaicans in fear, resulting in increasing calls for the Government to take corrective action to deal with the crisis.

Dr. Phillips said the Government would accelerate the programme of reform in the Jamaica Constabulary Force as well as other strategies which resulted in the 20 per cent decline in the murder rate last year.

DNA EVIDENCE

Meanwhile, legislation to allow DNA evidence to be collected from accused persons and a proposed law to impose tougher penalties on persons involved in the illegal gun trade are to be brought to Parliament before the end of the current legislative year.

Other measures announced to combat the increasing crime wave include:

Expand the Major Investigations Taskforce to include operations in western Jamaica.

Deployment of marine vessels across the island and establishing three permanent marine police bases on the South Coast to curtail the inflow of illegal guns.

Marine police bases to be located in Bowden, St. Thomas; the Portland Bight, Clarendon and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

Enact the Proceeds of Crime Act before the end of February to empower the state to seize the assets and ill-gotten gains of criminals.

Introduce legislation to establish a National Investigative Authority to probe corruption in all areas of public life (bill to be laid in Parliament before the end of the legislative year).

Carry out a major review of the Police Services Regulations and the 'Book of Rules' to expand the legal powers to remove tainted members of the police force.

WARNING

With elections constitutionally due by October this year, the National Security Minister again warned that any attempt to use violence during the election campaign would be "repelled in the strongest possible manner, irrespective of the real or perceived political affiliation of the perpetrators".

Commenting on Cricket World Cup 2007, set to begin in March, Dr. Phillips, who is chairman of CARICOM's Resource Mobilisation sub-committee for Crime and Security, said Jamaica would provide general security assistance for some of its regional partners.