I would like to share some exciting and heartening results from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce's Closed to Crime Initiative project, which raised funds to purchase and install closed-circuit television cameras at the Manchester Police Station that were recently activated and are being manned by trained police personnel on a 24 hours per day basis.

The cameras' locations are known only to the operations team, which is able to scan a wide range and zoom in, magnifying suspect actions, objects and individuals who are being observed. These fantastic technological tools are proving to be of great assistance in the fight against crime in this town, which has recently been suffering from an increase in crime, a lot of which is due to an influx of criminals from the Corporate Area and other well-known areas adjacent to the town.

Observing operations

In my capacity as a past president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and currently president of the Lay Magistrates' Association, I recently was afforded the privilege to observe the operations for a short period of time and was very impressed with the new possibilities offered by the use of this new unit.

The opening of the unit was publicly announced at a Thanksgiving Service held at the Mandeville Baptist Church on Sunday, July 28, which was attended by Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson and Superintendent of Police Ryland Salmon, among others.

Among the activities listed by Supt Salmon based on the first day of operations were:

162 traffic offenders caught.

Many illegalities by rogue bus operators and taxi operators halted.

Pickpockets, sellers of contraband goods and other illegal activities being nabbed, resulting in at least one pleading guilty and being fined in the courts.

A would-be rapist was identified prior to the act.

This was made possible by prompt action by police on duty.

From this small example it should be clear that this type of support is essential to assisting the police to help curb the scourge of crime as well as to make the criminals aware that they could be under surveillance when and where they least expect it.

AN APPEAL

The exciting undertaking by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce received financial support from the Ministry of National Security as well as the Ministry of Local Government, the member of parliament and private sector donations. There is still an outstanding balance owed on the equipment, however, which must be paid within the very near future, so I am appealing to private businesses and individuals who wish to support this marvellous crime-controlling action to make donations to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Shop 24, The Annex, Mandeville, Telephone 961-1440, email MCOC@cwjamaica.com, or President Winston Lawson, NCB Mandeville.

I am also very surprised to hear that aside from Mandeville, May Pen is the only other town that has taken this option of self-protection.

I can only wonder why Kingston and St Andrew have not already taken this route as their hot spots must be well known to the powers that be in those areas. Is it a case that the town shall lead them?

I am, etc.,

JEAN B. SEAGA-ANDERSON

jeanron@cwjamaica.com

Mandeville

Manchester