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The JLP will reduce the high crime and murder rate through a programme to Stop the Expansion of Crime Using Reform Efforts (SECURE).
- According to national polls, crime and violence is by far the most difficult challenge facing the nation.
- Jamaica’s murder rate of 1,139 in 2001 was the third highest murder rate in the world on a per capita basis (after South Africa and Colombia).
- The high crime rate is related to the poor economic performance and the high levels of unemployment, especially among young men.
- The crime rate is also related to the dramatic increase in the drug trade, organized crime, and gang-related activities and collusion with corrupt members of the security forces.
- The unacceptable increase in extra-judicial killings has demoralized many members of the force.
- Elements of corruption and political influence within the police force has also demoralized many members of the Forces.
- The security forces lack adequate resources, equipment and technology, as well as appropriate data-gathering and intelligence infrastructure, to adequately fight crime.
- The recent increase in the use of special police squads and units has not proven effective in reducing crime and has resulted instead in increased abuse of human rights.
The output of police officers has fallen .
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The output of police officers has fallen . . .
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. . . while our murder rate has escalated to one of the highest in the world . . .
Crime Reduction Plan
#1 Actively promote community policing, particularly in inner city communities, to improve the effectiveness of the police and to improve the relationship between citizens and the police.
#2 Remove politics from the police force by establishing an independent Police Services Commission (members to be confirmed by two-thirds majority in each House of Parliament).
#3 Improve benefits and compensation for police officers including a special retirement plan, specialized training compensation, and quicker payment of compensation and benefits.
#4 Create a new, independent, modern and technology-led National Intelligence Agency (“NIA”) by merging police and military intelligence units (Special Branch, Military Intelligence Unit). The NIA will report to a committee of the Commissioner of Police, Chief of Staff of the JDF, and a representative of the Attorney General. The NIA Chairman would be a civilian with a strong human rights record.
#5 Implement COMPSTAT to collect, monitor, analyze and map crime data, and to devise strategies to reduce crime.
#6 Increase the capital budget for the police for full computerization and equipment for intelligence, ballistics tests, DNA testing, forensics.
#7 Facilitate the improvement and implementation to enforce a procedure for proper crime scene management.
#8 Increase penalties for terrorist activities and other serious crimes.
#9 Launch a major programme to upgrade all police stations and ensure all officers have proper radio and other necessary equipment.
#10 Establish strategic police outposts and sub-stations in high crime areas to diffuse crime and act as a deterrent to criminal activity.
#11 Disband special “national” squads and rely instead on the National Intelligence Agency and local forces to wipe out crime.
#12 Fund the Crime Reduction Plan by negotiating with bilateral creditors to channel bilateral debt repayments into crime fighting.
CASE STUDY:
UNDERSTANDING COMPSTAT
Case Study: Crime fell in New York largely because of COMPSTAT
COMPSTAT is a crime analysis and management process developed by the New York City Police Department in the 1990s which played an essential role in the dramatic fall in crime in New York in the 1990s.
COMPSTAT collects, analyzes and maps crime data and other police performance measures on a regular basis and holds police managers accountable for their performance as measured by the data.
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