The importance of minimal crime to a stable economy

THE NATIONAL Crime Prevention Fund (NCPF), commonly known as Crime Stop Jamaica, is a not-forprofit, charitable organisation that offers a confidential conduit for Jamaicans to anonymously share information on criminal activities within their communities. Crime Stop is a tripartite partnership between the private sector, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the media.

AS A past chief executive officer of the PSOJ and a long-standing member of the board of the NCPF, I am proud to lead a 13-member board of directors, comprising seven females and six males, including representatives of the media, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the private sector. Sixteen private-sector associations are trustees of Crime Stop.

“The more crimes that are committed, the worse Jamaica appears to the international community. People planning their vacations will choose to go to places that have less crime. Job-producing companies will not want to locate in Jamaica, or existing Jamaican companies may leave Jamaica, if it is not safe to operate here. Young, promising Jamaicans may choose to leave Jamaica to work in safer havens, rather than stay and exercise their talents and abilities here.

Fighting the scourge of crime and violence is not only the job of the police. There is an urgent need for increased citizen cooperation in the fight against crime and violence.

“All these factors will lead to fewer jobs, which means more crime and corruption. As a result, we must recognise that crime is not simply a local issue, but rather an issue that affects Jamaica as a whole.”

The Honourable Mr Justice Michael Tulloch, judge of the Ontario Appeal Court, 2019.

Crime has been Jamaica’s biggest and scariest identifier. It is an issue that has plagued the country for decades. In 2020, Jamaica had the highest rate of homicide – 46.5 incidents per 100,000 people.

High levels of crime and violence in Jamaica remain a public health challenge, despite the plethora of social interventions implemented. Youth who are not in school, who are in conflict with the law, are unemployed and/or not participating in any training programme, comprise approximately 30 per cent of the total youth population, and are the primary perpetrators and victims of the most violent crimes in Jamaica.

Fighting the scourge of crime and violence is not only the job of the police. There is an urgent need for increased citizen cooperation in the fight against crime and violence. One way to accomplish this, our board believes, is through a nationwide campaign, targeting youth especially, appealing for persons to ‘Stand for Jamaica’, take back the country and become silent heroes in the fight against crime.

Over the years, Crime Stop’s media campaigns have had limited successes in recruiting confidential informants, providing valuable tips to the JCF, and offering monetary rewards to tipsters. However, one of Crime Stop’s proudest achievements is that over its 31 years of existence, no informant has ever been compromised.

That is why, with the support of many of the PSOJ’s members, the NCPF raised $28 million in 2021 to develop and execute a multimedia campaign which featured several social media influencers and, through multiple channels, reached the demographic that we believe can help to eradicate Jamaica’s long-standing ‘informer fi dead’ culture, by re-representing what it means to be a good citizen.

The health of Jamaica’s economy is ultimately a reflection of the well-being of each of its citizens. Crime Stop and its partners continue to work in earnest to improve the well-being of all Jamaicans, through our efforts to supporting the reduction of crime in our country.

SANDRA A.C. GLASGOW

Chairperson, National Crime Prevention Fund and Chief Executive Officer of the PSOJ, 2007- 2013