Police Reports for the First 5 months in 2020 shows 11 % Reduction in all Major Crimes

The Jamaica Constabulary Force, JCF, revealed that all major crimes were reduced by 11 % in the first five months of 2020 compared to the corresponding period for 2019, but murders down by only 1 % when compared to 2019.

Deputy Commissioners along with the Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, addressed the nation recently, using video conferencing.

Covid-19 and the States of Public Emergency were high on the agenda for the police when they delivered the report.  The high profile cases of Jodian Fearon and Jazmine Dean were also mentioned.

 Jamaican’s have focused on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, while the JCF used the time to make strides in bringing down the impact that the country’s crime problem has had on the lives of the citizens.  

There has been a 41 % case clear-up rate in major crimes, and this was among the highlights of the crime fight.

The Police Commissioner reported that the States of Public Emergency that is in effect across half of the country has continued to be effective in reducing crime.  

The officers stated that much of the reduction in crime came after new strategies were implemented along with investigations and improved case management systems.

 Fitz Bailey, the Deputy Commissioner in Charge of the Crime Portfolio,  said “these advances allowed the police to make more arrests and secure additional convictions”.

He also revealed that the investigations in Jodian Fearon and Jasmine Dean are advanced and he also mentioned last year’s conviction of Tesha Miller and revealed that the police are committed to closing cold cases, and more than 800 people were charged in relation to cases that were dated back to 2001.

Commissioner Anderson said the police are close to procuring body-worn cameras for the police as he intends to build on the progress that was made.  

 INDECOM and JCF Discussions Hindered by Covid-19

Commissioner Anderson reported that the outbreak of COVID-19 hindered the ongoing discussions between his office and the Independent Commission of Investigations, INDECOM.

While Commissioner of INDECOM, Terrence Williams, raised concerns as he believes the police were impeding investigations by the oversight body.

The JCF was doing so by refusing to submit to 10 requests for informal identification parades over the last two years, he added.

The Police Commissioner also revealed that discussions were held earlier this year.

INDECOM was also critical of the police for their alleged negligence of the detention centers that are under their purview currently.  

The Police Commissioner Anthony Anderson said the police plans to investigate the claims that were made by INDECOM but he defended the need to keep many of the prisoners in custody.