John Fisher Burns (right), London bureau chief for The New York Times, holds the gaze of Assistant Commissioner of Police Denver Frater, the man in charge of Area One, during a discussion last Thursday. The occasion was an induction ceremony of members of the Press Association of Jamaica's western chapter at the Twisted Kilt Lounge in Montego Bay. - Noel Thompson/Freelance Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The fight against crime and violence in St James has received a technological boost, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Denver Frater of the Area One Division.

"Our investigative capabilities, in relation to firearm offences, have now been strengthened with the establishment of a section of the automated fingerprint identification system and the integrated ballistic identification system," Frater said.

Frater was speaking at the Press Association of Jamaica's induction ceremony for media practitioners of western Jamaica at the Twisted Kilt Lounge in Montego Bay, St James, on Thursday.

The Area One Division, which includes Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland, accounts for 21 per cent of the national crime statistics. The parish of St James represents 12 per cent of the total. Since January, more than 200 persons have been murdered in the parish.

Police forced to act

These challenges have forced the police into action to rein in crime.

"A suitable location is being identified for the establishment of an electronic identification room, which will remove the stress and fear from witnesses attending an identification parade," Frater said.

Policing tactics

Among the policing tactics that is being utilised within the city of Montego Bay is a multimillion-dollar closed-circuit television mobile unit, which was funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund. The mobile CCTV unit, which was initially provided to police along Gloucester Avenue (the Hip Strip), has in recent times expanded coverage, including patrols of downtown Montego Bay.

Meanwhile, Frater has implored the public and private sector to continue partnering with the Jamaica Constabulary Force within the division to help curb the wave of crime affecting the region.

"I am not sure that, as a police organisation, we have all the answers, but what I do know is that democracy needs to be embraced by our political stakeholders, non-government organisations and, most importantly, the communities, recognising that, as a team, we can accomplish great things," the senior cop said.