Everlasting Secretary within the Ministry of Nationwide Safety, Ambassador Alison Stone Roofe, has emphasised the significance of unity and partnership in curbing crime throughout Jamaica.
She notes that these are two of the simplest instruments within the struggle in opposition to crime.
“By merely watching out to your neighbours, reporting what you see and listen to, and constructing a powerful community of belief, you’re stopping crime, generally with out even realising it. This traces up immediately with our Ministry’s broader crime-fighting methods,” the Everlasting Secretary mentioned.
Ambassador Stone Roofe identified that one of many Ministry’s core mandates is creating safer communities by means of citizen engagement.
“That’s the reason we spend money on social intervention, youth empowerment, and violence-prevention programmes,” she mentioned.
The Everlasting Secretary cited the Ministry’s ‘Liv Gud’ anti-violence marketing campaign as one instance of the Authorities’s funding in social intervention, youth empowerment and violence-prevention programmes.
“With programmes like these, we’re not simply reacting to crime; we’re stopping it,” Ambassador Stone Roofe maintained.
She was addressing residents and stakeholders throughout the launch of the Jamaica Constabulary Pressure (JCF) Neighbourhood Watch Programme throughout 4 rising communities in Hellshire, St. Catherine on, Saturday (Might 10).
Neighbourhood watch programmes had been formally rolled out in Sandhills Vista, Sandhills Bay, Hellshire Glades 1 and Upperfort A.
Ambassador Stone Roofe described the occasion as a “very important second” for the communities.
“This indicators that legislation enforcement and residents have chosen to take a stand… for security, for unity and for the sort of group wherein all of us need to stay… that’s the form the place neighbours know one another, look out for one another, and stand shoulder to shoulder in stopping crime earlier than it begins,” she mentioned.
The Everlasting Secretary famous that Hellshire has skilled a number of safety challenges over time, starting from break-ins to robberies and, extra not too long ago, considerations over organised prison teams utilizing elements of the world as hideouts.
“The JCF has responded with elevated patrols and intelligence gathering. However there may be one factor that we’ve discovered over time, and that’s that crime prevention works greatest when the group and the police transfer as one. And that’s what makes the Neighbourhood Watch Programme so very highly effective,” she affirmed.
Ambassador Stone Roofe emphasised that when residents unite, they get forward of criminals and be sure that crime doesn’t take root of their communities.
“Hellshire, we see, is creating quick – new houses, new households, new companies, but additionally, sadly, new alternatives for prison exercise. What this launch indicators to all of us and to you, as residents, is that you’re not ready for crime to succeed in your step. You might be setting a tone by now saying ‘we is not going to let crime outline our group’,” she mentioned.
The Everlasting Secretary identified that the Neighbourhood Watch Programme offers residents with the requisite help to safeguard their communities.
“It connects you with skilled officers from the JCF’s Neighborhood Security and Safety Department. It offers an alarm system tailor-made to your group. It empowers avenue and space coordinators to maintain an ear to the bottom and, certainly, it creates house for belief and communication between residents and the police. Moreover, it builds group spirit,” she instructed the residents.
There are 41 lively neighbourhood watches within the St. Catherine South Division, with plans in practice for the launch of three others earlier than yr finish.
Neighborhood Security and Safety Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Paulette Baker, mentioned the teams have been profitable in creating safer communities, lowering the worry of crime, and fostering belief and confidence between the police and residents.
