Gov’t Intensifying Efforts to Disrupt Gangs, Restore Law and Order – Dr. Chang

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says the Government is intensifying efforts to disrupt organised criminal gang activity, and restore law and order to affected communities.

“Our policy position of dealing with gang leaders is to see them arrested, charged and incarcerated for their crimes against people and the State. We envision in the media, images of dons being escorted to court by police officers as testimony of our new way of doing business,” he said.

Minister Chang, who was making a statement in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 9), stressed that apprehending, investigating, convicting and incarcerating these criminals is the best mechanism “to diminish the heroic image of the gang leaders”.

He stressed that there is need to further curtail organised criminal gang activity utilising the legislative framework, namely the Anti-gang Law, Proceeds of Crime Act, and the Anti-Lottery Scam Act, which are being reviewed to enhance their capability.

“Rest assured, we will be going after these criminals, taking the proceeds out of crime, seizing their assets, and those assets that they have also placed in names of members of their families,” he said.

Dr. Chang told the House that areas of Savanna-la-Mar, Negril and Grange Hill in Westmoreland have been classified as hotspots, with several communities affected by fallout related to the drugs for gun trade and lottery scam syndicates.

He noted that the Government intends to embark on the development of a master plan for these communities aimed at improving public order while at the same time enhancing access to social amenities.

In addition, there will be increased internal security operations within the division targeting wanted persons, persons of interest and known facilitators of gang rivalry that exist in the hotspot areas.

There will also be a strengthening of human and physical resources in Morgan’s Bridge Police District.

Dr. Chang said that law enforcement will also be working with the Financial Investigations Division (FID) and the Revenue Protection Division (RPD) to go after these criminals, their cronies and support systems to disable their resources and make them financially unviable.

“As a means of sustaining progress, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has re-established a Forward Operating Base (FOB) within Westmoreland and has commenced joint patrols, primarily in the hotspot areas of the division. This is being supported by the domestic patrols from the Westmoreland Divisional Police,” he informed.