Crime Stoppers Meet In Montego Bay

MONTEGO BAY — Approximately 200 speakers and presenters from major law-enforcement organizations, civilian agencies, crime stoppers and other delegates from a number of countries converged at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay for the Crime Stoppers International Training Conference 2011, which ended Wednesday (October 26).

Jamaica is set to reap huge benefits from hosting the 32nd staging of the prestigious crime management event, which was held under the theme, “Crime has no Borders”.

Participating presenters and speakers from the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime, US Marshals, the FBI and Britain’s Scotland Yard, were among those leading the workshops, and best practice procedures, on topics such as, Human Trafficking, Cyber Crime, Social Media and Social Networking and the Digital Footprint.

Crime Stop has been a part of Jamaica’s life since 1989 and, over this period, members of the public have taken the opportunity to call anonymously and report crimes, resulting in the arrest of over 2,200 individuals, the seizure of over $560 million worth of illegal drugs and the recovery of some $200 million worth of stolen property.

Co- Chairperson of the conference, Prudence Gentles, told JIS News that in the age of cyber crimes, and new ways by which people seek to make money illegally, citizens can no longer be complacent about the security of their ‘borders’.

“The theme, ‘Crime has no Borders’, suggests that the more you interact and network with other countries, the more you are able to keep up with the movement of criminals across all borders,” she said.

She added that there are thousands of programmes in over 28 countries, and it is growing because, as crime increases around the world, more and more programmes will be developed.

“The partnership between countries and organizations is very critical. Criminals move easily from nation to nation, so we can’t lock ourselves into being isolated in the world, that’s why these programmes are so important,” Ms. Gentles told JIS News.

Unit Chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), , Michael Plichta, who made a presentation on ‘Layers of Security’ during the first day of the conference, observed that persons from around the globe were becoming more conscious and proactive about their own security, and learning how to trust each other, for their own good.

He said that the countries represented at the conference indicated that the idea of crime stoppers is important, and is spreading.

“The fact that El Salvador and also Mexico were both represented here: They want to create their own ‘Crime Stoppers’, in order to become a part of this group,” he noted.

He stated that there has to be more trust in law enforcement, and more trust in the Government, and programmes like ‘Crime Stoppers’ are needed to help people bridge that trust, or the lack of it.

“They allow ordinary people to make anonymous tips about crimes that have happened, and to prevent crimes and also to solve crimes,” Special Agent Plichta told JIS News.

He emphasized that these were some of the things that help the Government to function the way it should, and help the police function the way they should.

“When people feel confident that they can provide information secretly to a trusted organization, then that helps to prevent crime and to stop crime. This organization is growing worldwide, and don’t be surprised that if in 10 years, every country in this hemisphere has ‘Crime Stoppers’,” he predicted.

By Glenis Rose, JIS Reporter