Dr. Chang Encourages Senior Police Officers to Formulate New Crime Fighting Strategies

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon Dr. Horace Chang is encouraging the top brass of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to formulate new crime fighting strategies in order to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated crime producers.

He made the call in an address to senior police officers at the JCF’s Strategic Planning and Management Retreat held at Royalton Negril Resort and Spa in Westmoreland on Saturday (February 19) under the theme: “Transforming Improvement to Service Quality.”

According to Dr. Chang, the emergence of lottery scamming particularly in western Jamaica coupled with threats posed by cyber-attacks and financial crime, have created a “whole new breed of criminality,” which require the police to adjust their crime fighting tactics.

“When I took responsibility of this ministry… gangs, and they still are in one sense, were the bane and the source of criminality and the bane of society but the organised gangs was easier to target and manage. Now scamming has introduced a whole new level of activities [where] some smart youngsters who have no sense of responsibility, no obligations and are very quick with technology and have smarter gangs are moving in a more dynamic and much more profiting,” he said.

Dr. Chang also informed that the money generated from scamming is fuelling the guns for drugs trade creating a new ecosystem in the criminal underworld, which poses a threat to national security.

“It therefore requires the Jamaica Constabulary Force to continue to adjust their strategies, change tactics and approaches in order to remain a step ahead of them and this kind of conference as you put together your management team and retreat of course gives you the opportunity to…,” he added.

The Minister said while there is need for improvement, he is satisfied that the police have been relentless in their efforts to tame the crime monster.

“We have seen results from all that is being done. The use of intelligence, surveillance and the target operation that you have done have interrupted criminal activities in a very big way and is already saving lives although numbers may not be where we want them,” Dr. Chang mentioned.

The national security minister pointed out that Government is also committed to playing its role to ensure that the police are equipped with the necessary resources to boost capabilities of the JCF.

“Our responsibility as Government is to ensure that the police force and all law enforcement agencies have the appropriate legislative framework within which to operate and to provide you with the support for your investment in the required infrastructure and support that you need,” he stated.