Roxroy McLean, Gleaner Writer
A young boy on Orange Street, downtown Kingston, waits by his cart for a sale. - File
Our news team ventured into Jamaica's major towns to observe the new zero-tolerance approach to crime recently announced by the police. Today, we begin a series on our findings.
Downtown Kingston
On the morning of Wednesday, June 11, our news team visited downtown Kingston and spent at least two hours observing various breaches. Ganja, fetching a price of $100 per one-pound bag, was being sold openly as any other in the market district. As if trading the weed was not enough, persons in and around the vicinity seemed to be on a mission to replace the atmospheric gases with ganja smoke.
Lit ganja cigarettes sparkled from stained fingers and lips in abundance.
Illegal vending was prominent from King, Beeston, Orange and Pechon streets.
Men armed with various size knives were observed going about their business. According to the police, one can be arrested and charged for being 'armed with an offensive weapon'; that is, if you are stopped and searched and the knife is found in your possession.
No police were observed
During The Gleaner's two-hour presence in downtown, no police were observed on patrol. Illegal taxis were parked under no-parking signs, and the general indiscipline among road users was evident.
Contacted on Friday, commanding officer for the Kingston Central Police Division, Superintendent Millicent Sproul-Thomas, declined to comment on the lawlessness observed in the commercial district of her division, but promised to speak with The Gleaner at a later date.
Cross Roads
In Cross Roads, Kingston, a number of men, almost like a chorus line, moved purposefully towards a wall already stained and smelling of urine, and deposited more in public view.
Ganja smoke competed with natural gases for air space as several men could be observed a puffing away at spliffs. This in the time of zero tolerance - the new approach to crime announced by Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin during a press conference earlier this year.
Zero tolerance means the police are to target all minor or major offences and take a 'zero tolerance' approach to any infraction.
Congestion
But last Wednesday, in the Cross Roads area, there was constant traffic congestion on the main road, with buses racing and overtaking to pick up and drop off passengers here, there and just about everywhere. Illegal parking seemed quite in order.
One vendor, selling knives and machetes of various shapes and sizes, had his goods spread out on a sidewalk, obstructing pedestrian traffic. Another pushed unwrapped pornographic material at passers-by as he tried to earn a living.
A uniformed policeman, perched on the edge of a sidewalk, unflinchingly overlooked the chaos.
According to the commanding officer for the St Andrew Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent (SSP) George Quallo, the attention of police personnel is focused on areas referred to as 'hot spots', where serious crimes occur, such as shootings and murders.
"They still maintain a presence in major thoroughfares to prevent crime, but the focus is on hotspots," Quallo said.
He went on to note that the police keep a sustained presence in certain areas, such as Tavern and August Town in Papine, two of the troubled communities in that division. Because of the intense presence, SSP Quallo said there has been a reduction in murders and shootings in these so-called 'hot spots'.
