By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Deputy British High Commissioner Phil Sinkinson (left) greets Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes while Assistant Commissioner Glenmore Hinds looks on. They were attending yesterday's launch of 'Operation Kingfish', the new crime-fighting initiative aimed at apprehending gang leaders. - RUDOLPH BROWN/Chief Photographer
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday unveiled yet another crime-fighting initiative, 'Operation Kingfish', just 24 hours after the Police High Command disclosed that 44 more persons were killed last week.
Up to last night, the number of persons murdered since the start of the year stood at 1,161, the most to have ever been recorded in the nation's history.
Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips, addressing key private sector leaders and reporters at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, in New Kingston, said the latest crime plan will target the leaders of an estimated 85 active criminal gangs, located across inner-city communities islandwide.
BREAK UP ORGANISED CRIME
He said a task force, to be headed by Assistant Commissioner Glenmore Hinds, has already been charged with the mandate of breaking the back of organised crime. "The main aim of the task force is to break up the organised and dangerous criminal gangs that are at the root of most of the gun violence," Dr. Phillips said.
He explained that Operation Kingfish will also be geared towards restoring community confidence and reducing the fear of crime "so people can get on with their normal day-to-day activities." He said known organised criminal gangs and their activities will be targeted, warning that nobody will be immune from prosecution.
And in a clear attempt at pre-empting his critics, Dr. Phillips added: "I want to emphasise that this initiative is different from previous efforts in the long and difficult struggle against violent crime and the unacceptable high murder rate in at least three respects."
According to him, "Operation Kingfish begins with a high degree of credibility and trust and has available to it the best capabilities within the security forces.
"It will be enhanced through the active involvement of the United Kingdom and United States Governments," Dr. Phillips said. "It will be provided with legal advice in the preparation of cases from the outset of the investigation so it will be better able to construct cases that can hold up in court."
ENDORSED
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes who endorsed the initiative, said gangs in Jamaica have increased from 35 in 1994 to 85 in 2004.
"There are now an estimated 85 gangs and approximately 12 per cent are rated as highly organised. Today's gangs are much more structured with global links reaching far across international borders," said the Commissioner.
However, in a quick response, Derrick Smith, Opposition spokesman on National Security, described the latest initiative as a recycling strategy that has failed in the past. He noted that Operation Kingfish was the 12th task force launched by the Government over the past 12 years to deal with crime.
"The most recent announcement does not induce confidence in the likelihood of its success. However, with over 1,150 murders so far this year, we are hopeful that this time around this task force will produce some measure of success to cause an abatement to this runaway murder and mayhem," Mr. Smith said.
