Intervention programmes help to cut crime

The police high command is reporting that social intervention programmes are helping to cut the murder rate.



Murders are among the three categories of major crimes that recorded drops last month when compared with January of 2007 and 2008.



There were 115 murders last month or 22 fewer than the number recorded in January last year.



Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, Mark Shields, said there has been an improvement in police strategy to combat crimes.



He said the drop in murders is largely due to the intervention of social groups like the Peace Management Initiative and the Violence Prevention Alliance.



According to the chairman of the alliance Dr. Elizabeth Ward, social intervention programmes are reaching their target audience.



She said many remain starved of resources with as little as $10 million being allocated a year.