Tell What You Know to the Police – DPP

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, is urging Jamaicans to take a stand against crime and violence by sharing information with the police that could assist in keeping their families and communities safe.

Addressing an awards ceremony to recognise long-serving Justices of the Peace (JP) from Trelawny, at the New Testament Church of God in Clark’s Town recently,

Ms. Llewellyn said she is convinced that there are crimes that could have been prevented had persons done the right thing in telling the police what they know.

“When I look at files that we have had to prosecute, I will see statements from family members that clearly suggest that they knew that this was a dysfunctional situation and yet they did nothing to prevent it or call the police on it,” the DPP said.

“Yet when the television cameras show up, they are the first persons there crying about how they can’t believe their family member was killed by so and so. The seeing no evil, hearing no evil…playing the part of the ostrich…has to stop. This kind of mentality only serves to foster crime and violence,” she contended.

Calling for an alliance of law-abiding citizens in the fight against crime, Ms. Llewellyn told the JPs to encourage community members to play their part in assisting the police.

“You need to be able to counsel community members and to get them to understand that everybody has to stand up and be counted, that being on the side of the law abiding is always the best choice to make,” she pointed out.

“Each of you can do your part by being the best exemplars of integrity, honesty within your community and persons others will try to emulate,” she said.

The DPP further urged the JPs to not be afraid to report acts of corruption.

“As far as I am concerned, corruption is a betrayal of trust. If you engage in corruption whether with a colleague Justice of the Peace or with a member of the public, you are betraying the trust of your office. You are betraying the trust in respect of your duty to your country,” she contended.