Fighting crime in 2008 needs a massive mobilisation of the nation comparable to the scale of that of a general election to effect meaningful change.

So says Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Linval Bailey in an address to the Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew last Thursday evening.

"There has to be a massive mobilisation of the Jamaican society against crime. This can be the first issue of consensus and collaboration among political leadership and civil society. Let us see if the political will and patriotism exists on all sides in the interest of our beloved country."

DCP Bailey said existing anti-racketeering legislation, anti-gang laws and the Evidence Act, the Explosives Act and the Firearms Act should be updated in keeping with the needs of contemporary society.

The amendment to the latter, he said, should enable the minimum of 10 years, imprisonment in all gun cases.

The DCP also criticised what he saw as a 'liberal' approach to granting bail.

To illustrate his point, DCP Bailey highlighted the recent case of reputed Clansman gang leader, 27-year-old Tesha Miller, who is on a triple murder charge.

"In one recent case, a man who is reputed to be the leader of one of our most brutal gangs in the St. Catherine area was arrested and charged for a triple murder, was granted bail, absconded and went to the United States, was arrested in the United States, subsequently deported, came back to Jamaica, served a few months for absconding bail, was taken back to court on his charge thereafter and again granted bail," he said.