Citizen Security Plan A Model for Crime Prevention

Now in its third year of implementation, the Citizen Security Plan (CSP) stands as a viable and sustainable model for social investment that addresses the root causes of crime, says National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang.

He noted that the initiative, which is being undertaken through support from the European Union (EU) is an integral aspect of the national security strategy.

“We understand that reactive measures are not enough; we must invest in proactive, preventive measures that uplift our communities and empower our people,” Dr. Chang said.

“The CSP, without question, stands as the cornerstone of our national security objectives,” he added, while addressing the Citizen Security Secretariat (CSS) retreat held at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston on July 11.

Dr. Chang noted that Secretariat and the Citizen Security Business Group are central to the success of the CSP.

These entities provide coordination and oversight, ensuring that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) work together to deliver social investment and crime-prevention programmes within identified volatile and vulnerable communities across the island.

While the initial phase of the CSP has been focused on the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs), the aim is to continue expanding implementation across other volatile communities.

Dr. Chang noted that one of the key aspects of the CSP’s success lies in its ability to collect and analyse data for the design and implementation of effective social policies and programmes.

He said the CSS notes that there is a data gap that hampers the ability to fully monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions, with only 40 per cent of the data required to track indicators currently available.

“To address this, we must prioritise the collection of disaggregated community-level data. This will allow us to understand the diverse needs, challenges, and dynamics of each community, tailoring our strategies to specific contexts and ensuring targeted and impactful interventions,” Dr. Chang said.

He commended the Crime Prevention Unit and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Community Renewal Plan (CRP) for the efforts in collecting and providing relevant data to the implementing partners to close some of the data gaps.

Dr. Chang also cited the collaborative work of the EU Technical Assistance Team and the Ministry of Education and Youth in improving data-collection systems, providing greater access to psychosocial support services, and enhancing educational outcomes for students in the targeted communities.

He noted that education is a critical part of the intervention by offering opportunities to change the trajectory of students’ lives through programmes such as the Literacy Education Acceleration Programme (LEAP).

Dr. Chang said the CSP partners have also been working to foster an environment that supports entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation, and safer spaces, with accomplishments to date including more than 14,000 vulnerable youths certified and approximately 37,000 enrolled, rehabilitation of 29 police stations, 28 safe spaces completed, and 4,252 individuals provided with counselling support services.

Ambassador of the EU to Jamaica, Marianne Van Steen, in her remarks at the event said this holistic approach to crime reduction is the “only way forward” to effectively treat with this social issue.

“Indeed, there have been very good results in [some areas] and I think it is very important that these efforts are sustained to make sure that these results will continue to be there in the future,” she said.