POLICE RESTRICT DANCES IN HOT SPOTS IN JAMAICA!

With the some sections of the country grappling with an upsurge in violence, the police have taken the decision to deny or restrict permits that are granted for events held in some troublesome areas.

A typical dance scene in Jamaica

Commanding officer for St Andrew South, superintendent Arthur Brown said there was a clampdown on events in that police division for the past two weeks.

“Recently, just over the weekend we have lifted it and we have allowed events to be held again,” Brown said.

He said the restriction has been lifted in areas where criminal activities have been on the decline including Olympic Gardens and Waltham Park Road.

However in some problematic areas like Whitfield Town, there block remains. Brown said there will be increased police activities.

Patrick Roberts

“They (citizens) will be interfacing with the police much more and some people will be inconvenienced by the presence of the police and the police activities,” he told THE STAR.

Councillor for the Molynes Division, Patrick Roberts, said his entire division has been affected by the clampdown and wants the ban to be lifted.

Communities thrive

He said the majority of inner-city communities thrive on events such as weekly round robins.

“Most of these events are what they use to send their children to school because most of these persons are unemployed,” he said.

Roberts believes that if more parties and dances are held in most of these areas, it will help to minimize violence.

He suggested the police can host their own social events to get to know residents better, and improve the residents’ trust in them.

Anthropologist Herbert Gayle believes the police should adapt a consultative approach to implementing strategies to combat crime in certain areas.

“We need to have that collaborative spirit to make those kinds of decisions. There needs to be a consultative team made up of security, community people, and a set of people who can help the decision and guide the process because some parties can cause problems while others might save lives. You certainly don’t want to shut down the ones that saves lives,” he said.

He argues that parties and other social events can help to end violence.

“Some of them also allow people a chance to come out and have a greater sense of self and walk out. Some also bridge gaps between warring factions,” he added.