JAMAICAN CRIME UPDATE

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000292

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/C, INL/LP (BOZZOLO) AND WHA/CAR (BUDDEN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC JM KCRM PGOV SNAR
SUBJECT: JAMAICAN CRIME UPDATE

REF: A)KINGSTON 69 AND B)KINGSTON 71

1.(U) Summary: This is an action message. See paragraphs 10
and 12. The GOJ has made specific requests for USG
assistance in tackling on-going efforts to quell violent
crime. In January, a surge in violence shocked the Jamaican
public and prompted the Commissioner of Police to warn of
worse to come during months leading up to national elections
this year. But, after an initial spate of violence, things
appeared to cool off by the middle of February. The GOJ
refined its anti-crime strategy. As the epicenter of violent
crime seemed to have shifted from Kingston to Montego Bay,
law enforcement operations focused on Montego Bay. End
summary.

CRIME FIGURES

2.(U) According to figures supplied by Deputy Police
Commissioner Mark Shields, the number of persons arrested and
charged for criminal offenses in Jamaica between January 1st
and February 18th was 1,894 in 2007, compared to 2,338 for
the same period in 2006. However, murders committed during
this period increased by 21% nation wide in 2007. While the
greater Kingston area was at the same number of murders as
last year (125),St. James Parish (Montego Bay) went from 18
murders for the period in 2006 to 31 in 2007, a 72% increase.
Clarendon (a marijuana trafficking center) registered an
increase of 111%, going from 9 murders in this period in 2006
to 19 in 2007. So far this year, six police officials were
murdered. Comment: Murders overall in Jamaica decreased by
20% last year, compared to 2005. End Comment.

ANTI-CRIME STRATEGY

3.(U) On January 22, cabinet reportedly endorsed an
anti-crime strategy put forth by Minister of National
Security Peter Phillips. Phillips made the strategy public
on January 29. He emphasized that it was not a new strategy;
rather it was a plan for "staying the course." Basically,
that meant applying what worked in Kingston elsewhere. It
included the following:

- applying hot-spot policing (intense focus of resources) to
trouble areas any where in Jamaica
- conducting joint operations using the Jamaica Defence Force
(JDF) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)
- establishing a permanent presence of Operation Kingfish on
the Western end of the island
- expanding the Major Investigations Task Force to Western
Jamaica

4.(U) But, Phillips did call for some new initiatives, as
well. They were

- new legislation to allow DNA evidence to be collected from
accused persons
- enactment of the Proceeds of Crime Act before the end of
February
- legislation to provide stiffer penalties for persons
trafficking in firearms
- legislation to establish a National Investigative Authority
to deal with investigations of corruption in all areas of
public life
- deploying marine vessels around the island and establishing
three permanent marine police bases on the south coast to
deal with arms smuggling
- a major recruitment drive to increase numbers and quality
of JCF staff
- review the Police Service Regulations and the Book of Rules
to expand legal powers to remove tainted JCF members
- strengthen operation of the newly created Police Civilian
Oversight Authority and the anti-corruption unit within the
JCF's Professional Standards Branch
- Upgrade technologies available to the JCF, including the
police radio system and the 119 emergency hotline

5.(U) Following the Minister's lead, Commissioner of Police
Lucius Thomas gave an address on January 31, in which he