Jamaicans must help the police solve crime, says church group

The Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches says Jamaicans must take their civic duty to help solve crime seriously and become active stakeholders in helping the police to capture criminals.

Secretary of the group, Reverend Gary Harriott says the group believes that much of the country’s crimes could be solved if more people came forward to tell the police what they know.

Reverend Harriott says the group is deeply saddened by the spate of recent crimes, citing the murders of businessman Trevor Meikle in Manchester, police Corporal Judith Williams in Kingston and American Christian Missionaries Harold Nichols and Randy Hentzel in St Mary.

He says these deaths should act as a wake-up call to Jamaicans that they must participate in crime-fighting by making information available to the police.

In addition, Reverend Harriott says there is an urgent need to address values and attitudes in Jamaica, which he says is one of the factors affecting crime and violence in the country.

He says the umbrella group is of the view that too many Jamaicans do not respect life.

Meanwhile, he says more has to be done to empower the country’s youth as part of the approach to drive down crime.