Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINGSTON100
2005-01-11 19:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

2004 A BANNER YEAR FOR CRIME IN JAMAICA

Tags:  PREL KCRM PGOV SNAR JM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000100 

SIPDIS

WHA/CAR (BENT),INL/LP (KBROWN),DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2015
TAGS: PREL KCRM PGOV SNAR JM
SUBJECT: 2004 A BANNER YEAR FOR CRIME IN JAMAICA

REF: A. 03 KINGSTON 0991

B. 04 KINGSTON 01956

C. 04 KINGSTON 01608

Classified By: Ambassador Sue M. Cobb for reasons 1.5 (b) & (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000100

SIPDIS

WHA/CAR (BENT),INL/LP (KBROWN),DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2015
TAGS: PREL KCRM PGOV SNAR JM
SUBJECT: 2004 A BANNER YEAR FOR CRIME IN JAMAICA

REF: A. 03 KINGSTON 0991

B. 04 KINGSTON 01956

C. 04 KINGSTON 01608

Classified By: Ambassador Sue M. Cobb for reasons 1.5 (b) & (d).


1. (C) Summary: For many Jamaicans, crime remained a major
preoccupation throughout 2004. According to the Jamaica
Constabulary Force's (JCF) Crime Statistics Report (CSR) for
2004, close to nine thousand major crimes were committed
island-wide during the year. By December 31, the number of
homicides had skyrocketed to 1,469 (the most in Jamaica's
history),with October the worst month, accounting for over
157 murders. Because not all crimes are reported or come to
the attention of the police, and because the criminal code
contains many more varieties of major crimes than those
listed in the CSR, the sum total of crime actually committed
during 2004 may have been greater than is indicated by the
CSR. Incoming JCF Commissioner Lucius Thomas will have his
hands full if he is to address the JCF's many shortcomings,
and, with frequent, credible allegations of corruption in the
police force and the political arena, there is little
indication at present that the country's crime problem will
be resolved soon. His is likely to be a short honeymoon.
End Summary.

--------------
Crime Rate Spirals Upward
--------------


2. (C) The latest Crime Statistics Report (CSR) compiled by
the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for the period covering
January 1 through December 31, described a 29 percent
increase in major crimes as compared with the same period in

2003. A total of 8,800 major crimes were committed, an
increase of 2,003. (Note: the CSR lists major crimes as
murder, shooting, rape, carnal abuse, robbery, breaking and
larceny, but does not take into account other major crimes
such as extortion and felonious wounding. End Note.) The
number of murders rose 51 percent, breaking and entering as
well as shootings each followed with a jump of 46 percent,
and robberies increased 23 percent. The number of rapes
dropped by 8 percent while carnal abuse and larceny offenses
rose slightly. According to the 2004 CSR, 28 percent of the

murders committed were reprisals, 21 percent were domestic
disputes (Note: Domestic disputes are defined as
disturbances between two individuals that know each other,
but who may not necessarily be family members. For example,
an altercation between a store proprietor and customer would
also fall within this category. End Note.) Sixteen percent
went undetermined, 18 percent were gang related, while the
remaining 17 percent consisted of drug, rape and mob-related
motives.


3. (C) In stark human terms, during the 12 months of 2004,
1,469 people died through intentional criminal violence.
This is the highest number of murders in Jamaica's recorded
history. As in previous years, the great bulk of the crimes
committed were firearms related (murder and shootings). At
76 percent, the gun was by far the weapon of choice used in
committing murders, followed by knives (13 percent),and
machetes (5 percent). The total number of reported crimes
rose 31 percent in rural areas as compared with a 61 percent
increase in the total for urban communities.

--------------
The Difficulty with Measuring Crime
--------------


4. (C) Statistics about crime are gathered by the JCF as one
of its responsibilities. To get this data, the JCF relies on
the cooperation of police from each of its nineteen
divisions. The JCF requests information in more or less
standardized forms, but the police are not required by law to
comply. The crime data at best only estimates the incidence
of a selected number of crime categories. The best
conclusion that can be drawn from even the most carefully
gathered statistics is that the actual incidence of crime is
probably no less than indicated but may be much more
extensive. Many crimes are underreported, such as rape and
extortion, in which the victim is likely to receive as much
unwanted publicity as the criminal, or suffer retribution,
while other crimes remain undetected and unsolved.


5. (C) Some observers have questioned whether the JCF figures
reflect reality. The police have been accused of reporting
serious crimes as lesser offenses in order to create the
appearance of less crime in their divisions. Furthermore,
available crime statistics deal with only a select few
categories, and even assuming reliable data within these
categories, the total crime picture of Jamaican society is
incomplete. The CSR is based upon "crimes known to the
police". Also missing from this picture are the complex yet
apparently frequent illicit activities of Jamaica's
widespread organized criminal elements, as represented by the
"community leader", "shotta" (slang for gunman),"gangster"
or "don" (Ref A). Added to this equation is the fact that
statistics are compiled manually. The JCF does not have an
automated system, thus the compilation of statistics is
subject to human error. Aware, however, that no problem -
whether medical, scientific, or social - can be attacked
successfully until its dimensions are known, the JCF
leadership is trying to implement more accurate central
reporting methods.

--------------
Corruption Hinders Progress
--------------


6. (C) In 2004, there were a number of graphic illustrations
of the weakness of law enforcement and political institutions
in combating crime. One particularly stark example: at the
time of his murder in July 2004, alleged Spanish Town "One
Order" gang leader Oliver "Bubba" Smith was using a vehicle
registered in the name of his alleged criminal deputy, Andrew
"Bun Man" Hope, and Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) MP Olivia
"Babsy" Grange. (Ref B) Police questioned Grange for several
hours regarding her connection to Smith and Hope. She denied
knowing Smith and claimed that she only guaranteed a loan for
Hope, who is one of her "constituency workers." During a
four hour search of Smith's home, the police found a green
Jamaica Labour Party t-shirt with the words "One Love Babsy
Cares" written on the front and "One Order Central St.
Catherine" written on the back. The investigation into
Grange's relationship with Smith has been dropped.


7. (C) Deputy Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, who is
to become the new Commissioner of the JCF on January 19 (Ref
C),recently told Poloff that every illegal operation in
Jamaica - gangs, drug runners, extortionists, etc. have at
least two to three JCF officers involved. He stated frankly
that it is impossible for illegal activity to take place in
Jamaica without some sort of JCF assistance. In an effort to
address corruption in its ranks, the JCF is to implement new
reform policies under the Professional Standards Branch of
the JCF. This new unit's core function will be to target and
investigate police misconduct and corruption. It is
anticipated that its policies will be implemented after the
new JCF commissioner is sworn in on January 19.

--------------
Comment
--------------


8. (C) Somewhat ironically, embattled former JCF Commissioner
Forbes may have been yet another "casualty" of 2004's soaring
crime rate, and of widespread public dissatisfaction with the
JCF's seeming impotence in effectively confronting the
problem. In his departing remarks, Forbes publicly invited
other senior JCF officers to consider early retirement in
order to allow "new blood" to circulate within the JCF
leadership. We shall see how many others follow - or are
compelled to follow - Forbes's lead in retiring.


9. (C) There is every reason to believe that crime in Jamaica
will remain a significant public concern during 2005. Some
commentators note a lasting solution to the problem rests not
only with law enforcement, but with the public. Effective
policing requires a level of trust in the JCF that does not
currently exist and that citizens cease tolerating the many
types of illicit activities that often occur openly without
comment or action. It can be a vicious cycle, however, the
general lack of trust in the JCF is often a direct result of
corruption in the force, heavy handed or incompetent
policing, fear of reprisals, and the JCF's unresponsiveness
to emergency calls. Forbes's departure offers the
possibility of an improvement in JCF performance, but the new
commissioner may well have a short honeymoon. It remains to
be seen whether he and other senior officers will succeed in
making the JCF more effective in its assigned role. End
Comment.
COBB