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