Ferguson

Resident Magistrate (RM) for Trelawny, Vivienne Hall-Brevere, has thrown her support behind recent initiatives to strengthen community policing in Jamaica.

She urged Jamaicans to "be bold enough to accept new ways and admit when change is needed".

She also used the Jamaican proverb: "One han' caan clap", to reiterate the need for cohesiveness which, would help to ensure that persons actively participate in helping to create safer communities and not only act when crime affects them or persons close to them. She reminded them that like the 'Jamaican partner' savings scheme, persons would only get what they put in.

The RM was the guest speaker at the United States Agency for International Development-sponsored (USAID) Community-Based Policing (CBP) programme roll-out for the Trelawny Division on Tuesday, July 29, at Falmouth Gardens Playfield, in Race Course.

Law enforcement

Community-based policing is a law enforcement philosophy and organisational strategy, based on partnership between citizens and police to address the root causes of crime, disorder and fear of crime. It has been a part of the police force's policy for over 10 years. The community safety and security branch was created to craft a comprehensive framework, based on the lessons learnt, best practices developed and to roll-out CBP islandwide.

The initiative was officially launched in the Trelawny police division by Senior Superintendent of Police, Paul Ferguson. In his address, Ferguson implored the attendees to be more involved in their welfare, as citizens and as a community. He reminded them that success requires a collaborative effort and that each person should play his or her part.

Other speakers, who endorsed the initiative, included Mayor of Trelawny, Collin Gager, who spoke of his experience as a former member of the police force and described CBP as a creative and non-traditional approach to policing. Mr Roylan Barrett, custos of Trelawny. Also in attendance were Garth Wilkinson, councillor for the Falmouth Division; Superintendent Linnette Williams-Martin, officer in charge of the Trelawny Division; and Ms Igel McLeish, president of the Race Course Citizens Association, also gave remarks. Audrey Barrett, from the police's Victim Support Unit, gave the vote of thanks and Mr Claude Thompson, manager of the Falmouth branch of Jamaica National Building Society, chaired the function.

Phase one

Assistant Commissioner of Police John McLean, who heads the Community Safety and Security Branch, was also in attendance, as well as representatives of USAID. The audience consisted of a jam-packed, standing-room only, cross section of citizens from the surrounding business and residential communities. Members of the community also provided entertainment as part of the programme.

Phase one of the CBP roll-out will initially include 38 selected communities across the island's 19 police divisions with an increase of approximately 38 communities each successive year, as resources permit. So far, since the beginning of the year, other roll-outs have taken place in Newland, St Catherine, and Havendale, in St Andrew.