JPs Hailed as Key Stakeholders in Crime Fighting

Commissioner of Police, Dr. Kevin Blake, has highlighted the key role of Justices of the Peace (JPs) in crime fighting.

He noted that as the “human face of justice” they help to build legitimacy in the justice system through the fair, ethical, and transparent exercise of their authority.

Dr. Blake, who was delivering the keynote address at the recent JP commissioning ceremony for St. Andrew at the Jamaica College campus, argued that people comply with the law when they believe that the system is legitimate rather than for fear of punishment.

“Legitimacy is built when people feel respected. Legitimacy is built when justice is not selective and this is where influence matters deeply,” he noted.

“When a JP listens patiently, when a JP refuses a bribe, when a JP treats everyone equally, regardless of status or surname, that act alone strengthens the entire justice system. You may never see the full impact of your decisions but, believe me, the communities you serve will feel it,” he told the newly commissioned officers.

Noting the gains made in crime fighting, including a 30-year low in murders last year, the Police Commissioner said: “Jamaica… is proving that violence is not our destiny. Through sustained effort, strategic policing and national cooperation, we are seeing real, measurable reductions in serious crimes. Murders are down.”

He noted that communities have a key role to play in ensuring that these gains are sustained, as the police cannot go it alone.

“Even with these remarkable results, we have to resist the urge to take a victory lap. Progress is fragile, and the moment we become complacent is the moment we lose ground. Crime reduction is a national effort and that is why your role as Justice of the Peace is so critical at this time. Colleagues, our gains must be sustained and peace must be protected,” he said.

“Only when disputes are resolved early, only when young people see role models of integrity, only when citizens trust institutions enough to cooperate do we achieve lasting safety. Justices of the Peace sit at that crucial intersection between the State and its citizens,” Dr. Blake added.