Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writer
Allison Troy (right), general manager of Newcom, explains how the new 'emergency texting service' works, at a press briefing at the Office of the Commissioner of Police yesterday. Seated is Angella Thomas, systems maintenance and development manager for the police computer centre. The system is a collaboration between the Jamaica Constabulary Force and Digicel. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE JAMAICA Constabulary Force (JCF) and Digicel have combined in a new crime-fighting strategy aimed at improving intelligence gathering.
The initiative entitled 'Emergency Texting Service' was launched yesterday at the Police Commissioner's Office on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew.
The new system will allow citizens from all three major networks - Digicel, Cable and Wireless and MiPhone - to text 119 from their phones, when in need of the police or in an emergency, for just $1. Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas said that the times called for new and ingenious ways of information gathering, and this new service would be one way of improving the present capability of the force.
"This bit of technology will enhance the capacity of the intelligence area, we are speaking here of an intelligence-driven organisation (and) we speak of people having trust and confidence in the information that is passed on," he said. Mr. Thomas also implored citizens to make use of the new system to relay information to the police. "There is no excuse for you (Jamaica) not to call in with information to help us to police effectively in a professional way," he continued.
Wayne Miller, marketing communications manager at Digicel, said his company was concerned about the level of crime in society and saw this as a way of helping to battle the problem.
"If we are to make inroads into crime, members of the public need quick access to the crime fighters and the 119 texting service will allow them to do just that," he said.
