Durrant Pate/Contributor

The Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU) are hailing their ongoing partnership on the multi-billion-dollar Citizen Security Plan (CSP), which has achieved key milestones in community safety and security. 

A data-driven, outcome-oriented framework designed to address the social, economic, and institutional factors that contribute to crime and violence, the CSP was established in 2010. Instead of operating as a standalone initiative, the plan connects schools, social service providers, law enforcement, community organisations, and government ministries, departments and agencies under a unified approach that prioritises long-term development alongside safety. 

This model reinforces the national goals outlined in Plan Secure Jamaica and Vision 2030 Jamaica, both of which place community well-being at the centre of national progress. Speaking at a high-level CSP engagement earlier this week, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang pointed to the successful execution of the CSP, which is taking an all-of-government approach to creating safer and more inclusive communities.

“The Citizen Security Plan is showing clear results. As communities become more secure, fear begins to subside, and we see a shift in the issues that surface, less of the extreme violence that once dominated headlines, and more of the underlying social challenges that must be addressed. Despite the pressures of COVID-19, natural disasters, and economic strain, the CSP has helped to significantly reduce violence in several high-risk areas,”  Chang asserted.

Continuing, the minister reported, “this programme works because it brings every arm of government to the table, social services, policing, community development, health, and education, aligned around data and coordinated action. That level of collaboration is essential if we are serious about long-term change in Jamaica’s security landscape.” 

EU delegation standing with Jamaica

Head of the EU delegation to Jamaica, Ambassador Dr Erja Askola, also acknowledged the success of the CSP, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration in Jamaica’s approach to citizen security.

“For more than 50 years, the European Union has stood alongside Jamaica, and for over two decades we have invested directly in strengthening the security and justice sector. Through the Citizen Security Plan, we have helped to renovate police stations, create safe spaces for children and vulnerable groups, expand psychosocial and learning activities in schools, and provide vocational training for youth at risk. These interventions create real alternatives, opportunities for work, stability, and growth, so that young people are kept out of crime and violence,” Ambassador Askola said.

The EU has been a central partner in the CSP’s implementation, contributing J$3.5 billion over five years through budget support and technical assistance. The CSP has helped to rebuild trust, empower youth and strengthen resilience across vulnerable communities, while promoting the philosophy that safer communities benefit all Jamaicans. Also addressing Thursday’s high-level engagement was Dianne McIntosh, executive director of the Citizen Security Secretariat, who pointed to CSP’s results and long-term benefits that resonate with communities on many levels. 

According to her, “Hurricane Melissa has put every system we built to the test, but what gives us hope is that the tools we need already exist and they work. Our psychosocial infrastructure, our case management systems, our data-sharing committees, and the partnerships we have built across ministries and agencies are not theoretical; they are operational and proven effective. The same mechanisms that supported more than 103,000 parents and completed 250 child diversion cases can now pivot seamlessly to deliver trauma-informed care and coordinated support to families navigating displacement, loss, and emotional shock.” 

As this phase of the Citizen Security Plan concludes, the lessons learned and results achieved will guide the next stage of Jamaica’s national security and social development strategy. The CSP has demonstrated how integrated governance, community partnerships, and consistent engagement can strengthen the social fabric of high-priority areas and contribute to a safer, more inclusive future for all Jamaicans. Over the past five years, CSP has strengthened Jamaica’s social and security infrastructure through measurable, data-driven outcomes. 

The Child Diversion Programme completed 250 cases, with 86 per cent of participants receiving treatment plans, while 76 per cent of medium and high-risk students completed a case management plan. Child guidance clinic usage rose by 219 per cent, and more than 1,614 students were risk-assessed, which will also provide a critical baseline for post-Melissa intervention.

Across 25 CSP communities and seven Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs), data-sharing committees, geospatial tools, and inter-agency coordination have created an operational system capable of real-time crisis response.