MIT Improves Capacity to Probe Crimes

The Major Investigation Task Force (MIT) is improving its capacity to probe major crimes, in particular gun-related murders and shootings.
Speaking during his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate yesterday (Jan. 23), Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, noted that the capacity-building process has benefited from a range of initiatives introduced over the past year.
Some of the initiatives included training in financial crime investigation and crime zone mapping and advanced training for forensic scene of crime officers. Additional vehicles were provided, and seminars on intellectual property enforcement, video identification and fugitive investigation, were held. “These initiatives have been undertaken as part of a new approach to crime-fighting and, simultaneously, a new structure and new operating procedures have been adopted to provide for improved supervision and oversight, with built-in mechanisms for accountability and review,” Senator MacMillan said.
He also informed that the MIT is developing its own community contacts and acts independently, where necessary, to reassure and protect vulnerable victims and witnesses. He noted that one of the major indicators of success so far, has been how the MIT looks after vulnerable witnesses, who have come forward to provide statements, where previously, these persons may have feared reprisals or felt that they could not trust local police.
According to the National Security Minister, the improved investigative capability of the MIT can be gauged by both its approach to investigations as well as the results achieved. This new approach begins at the crime scene, he said, where the Homicide Action Teams provide valuable support to local officers in the first hours of any investigation.
The Homicide Action Teams provide a one-stop approach, where detectives and specially trained forensic crime scene investigators work together with the divisions and local communities to solve a case. They provide immediate practical support to the first officers on the scene and prioritise the search for witnesses, suspects and the collection of forensic evidence.
“This new investigative strategy has already started to have a significant and positive impact on the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) by improving their investigative and forensic approach,” Senator MacMillan told the Senate.
He noted that the MIT’s successes have spread beyond Kingston and St. Andrew, where it is mandated to work, and the taskforce will continue to provide valuable advice, guidance and support wherever it is required within Jamaica.
In Kingston and St. Andrew, where the MIT operates, the overall clear up rate is 34 per cent moving from 29 per cent. In 2009, the task force is looking to improve this figure to 40 per cent.