Col. Macmillan Urges Greater Co-Operation Between Police and Communities

Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, has called for greater co-operation between the police and citizens in reducing crime and violence in Jamaica.
The minister said that no police jurisdiction can be successful and effective, without the support of the communities they cover. However, he said that co-operation was not something that could be demanded from the communities and would have to be earned.
“Our police force has a little way to go in earning the respect of our communities. It is very very critical that they do so,” the Minister said.
Senator MacMillan was speaking at the launch of the 2009 Peace for Prosperity campaign at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston, on February 5.
He cited the response of citizens to the slaying of two police officers in May, 2008, as a prime example of police/citizen co-operation.
“That is what I call community working with the police. It is something that we will have to work towards, and work hard for. Regretfully, there is no magic wand, there is no way it is going to happen overnight,” the Minister cautioned.
“It has taken nearly 40 years for us to reach this level when, for example, (attending) the last graduating class of the university, I was told that 80 odd percent were females. That is very good, but what happens to the males who have not finished school, (who) have dropped out, (and) have formed themselves into gangs,” he said.
“We now have more gangs than we have ever had in the history of Jamaica, and some of them are quite dangerous. So the whole question of the peace campaign is absolutely critical, and I support it,” Col. MacMillan added.
He also commended the organisers of the campaign, pledging his support for any initiative which promotes unity and violence prevention.
The Peace for Prosperity Campaign, which ends in April, includes: a public education campaign; entertainer and media manager’s forum; a peace rally on Peace Day, March 3; a march for peace on March 8; a concert; and various community activities. It will be held under the theme ‘Invest in our Children, Invest in Our Future’.
The initiative is a collaborative effort involving Peace and Love in Society (PALS) Jamaica, UNICEF, the Healthy Lifestyle Project of the Ministry of Health, the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation, among others.