Police Commissioner Antony Anderson says he is buoyed by community members’ shifted views about reporting criminal activities, which has been very beneficial to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The commissioner was speaking during a press briefing yesterday (April 4), where he shared that the JCF has been seeing “encouraging signs that communities are less willing to accept criminal in their midst”.

For many years, citizens have refused to report criminal activates in their communities, either because of fear or a belief that ‘snitching’ is not an activity that should be practiced.

However, according to Anderson, the strategies being taken by the JCF are slowly shifting this reality.

“The strategy of our commanders and their teams to be closer to their communities and build relationships is working. We do not regard these efforts as an event, but as an ongoing part of our policing plan. People are supporting what we are doing. They are giving us information, they’re working with us and taking responsibility for safety in their communities,” said the commissioner.

In the first quarter of 2023, Jamaica saw a 22 per cent decline in major crimes, inclusive of robberies, break-ins, rape, murders and shooting. This achievement was attributed partially to the help from communities members, as well as the intelligence work being done by the JCF.

“Our commitment as the JCF is to continue to relentlessly target criminal organisations and remove those criminal gangsters who use fear to subdue communities, commit murders and interrupt the quality of life of law abiding citizens,” stated Anderson.

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