JAMAICA: CRIME ON THE RISE; 5733 MAJOR CRIMES AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000531 SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY FOR INFO STATE FOR WHA/CAR ((RALVARADO) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) WHA/EPSC (MROONEY)(FCORNEILLE) INR/RES (RWARNER) INR/I (SMCCORMICK SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2029 TAGS: ECON ASEC SOCI SNAR PREL PGOV KCRM KCOR XL JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: CRIME ON THE RISE; 5733 MAJOR CRIMES AND CLIMBING Classified By: CDA a.i. Lloyd Moss for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Major crimes are up 20 percent for the first seven months of the year, a majority of the increase is related to property crimes, according to Minister of National Security, Dwight Nelson, who addressed the issue at a breakfast meeting of the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF) on July 6, attended by Econoff. Nelson said Surprisingly, other violent crimes, such as murder and rape, have moderated during the same time period. He does not blame the economic downturn for the spike in crime, but instead said culpability rests with the 120 plus highly-organized criminal gangs that operate in Jamaica. He vowed to crush these gangs in the coming years through improved technology, better police training, and seizing the proceeds of crime. End Summary. Murder Down, Spike in Property Crime -------------- ¶2. (U) Nelson said that from the period of Jan 1 to July 3 there were more than 5,733 major crimes committed in Jamaica, a 20 percent increase over the same period last year. Although murder is down 10 percent and rape is down 24 percent, he commented that there is a &frightening increase8 in property crimes. Robbery is up 18 percent, breakings are up 79 percent, and larceny is up 127 percent. Determined to Crush Gangs...Within A Few Years -------------- ¶3. (U) Nelson stated that although the number of murders is down, Jamaica continues to have one of the highest per capital murder rates in the world. He attributes this to the proliferation of highly organized and internationally connected criminal entities in Jamaica. He said the gangs are involved in the trade of drugs, human trafficking, and extortion. He commented that gangs are responsible for 80 percent of the murders, and said he was &determined to crush these gangs.8 However, he was quick to note that major success would not be achieved overnight, and said it would take a five-year timeframe to bring crime down to an acceptable level. Need Credible Police, Proper Equipment -------------- ¶4. (U) Nelson said the country must have police that are credible, property trained, and properly equipped, adding that while the police force in Jamaica should be 12,000 strong, currently there are only 8,000 officers. He said the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is only training 300 new recruits per year; with an attrition rate of 200, there are roughly only 100 new police officers on the force per year. He said the training center has barracks that were &damaged two hurricanes ago, and still have not been fixed.8 He said if we spend 9 million dollars (USD 102,000) the fix this building we could be likely double the number of new police to 600. New Technology and Laws -------------- ¶5. (U) Nelson identified a few technological tools that are being used to help fight crime. These included the implementation of a vehicle tracking system, the acquisition of dozens of new police vehicles, a ballistic record system for every legitimate firearm on the island, and the implementation of the National Identification System with biographical data. He said the Proceeds of Crime Act would allow the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) to seize illegally gained assets from criminals and &finally put an end to criminals flaunting their ill-gotten wealth.8 He also proposed establishing a police reserve that consists of private citizens. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: It is understandable that Nelson would try to reassure the JEF that the Ministry has a clear plan to tackle Jamaica,s crime monster. The equipment items listed above in paragraph 5 are merely proposals being considered by the Ministry. To date, there is no evidence that either the GOJ or international donors have the funding necessary to make these notions a reality. Furthermore, both Nelson and Audley Shaw, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, continue to promise aggressive implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Act; however, the JCF continues to seize and forfeit criminal assets using an older instrument, the Dangerous Drugs Act, which mandates post conviction forfeiture, rather than the Proceeds of Crime Act,s pre-conviction civil forfeiture. ¶7. (C) On July 7, the NAS Director met with Nelson,s Special Advisor for Policy, Errol Strong. Strong expressed serious disappointment with Nelson,s tentativeness. He also indicated that Nelson continues to spend an inordinate amount of time on his &other job,8 the negotiation of labor contracts for the GOJ. Nelson must find his feet soon and do more than make public pronouncements about the GOJ,s plans. The Financial Investigative Division (FID) Act awaits passage, the Anti-Crime bills continue to languish in Parliament, the management of the Financial Investigative Division has not been properly vetted, and the Police Strategic Review is in slow motion. Action, not words are what is needed from Jamaica,s third Minister of National Security since September 2007. End Comment. MOSS