Assistant Commissioner of Police John McLean has sided with National Security Minister Dwight Nelson on the need for a cohesive approach to the social intervention initiatives being pursued to bolster the Jamaica Constabulary Force community-policing programme.

McLean's stance came just days before the 22nd annual neighbourhood-watch conference which took place at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on the weekend.

The conference, hosted by the Police Community Safety and Security Branch, was held under the theme 'Recommit, Rebuild and Restore: Crime Prevention - our Intention'.

McLean told The Gleaner that the work of his team received the greatest support from former Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

However, the men at both the policy directorate and operational arm have expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the intervention programme.

Nelson said there was need for a greater harmonisation of the initiatives being undertaken by the state and non-governmental organisations.

Criminal violence

The minister said one of the weaknesses affecting the attempts to address the social ills contributing to criminal violence in society is the failure to harmonise the programmes to collectively deal with the problem.

Nelson said while there was no shortage of programmes being promulgated by both government and non-governmental organisations, greater collaboration and planning were needed to combat the challenges the nation faces daily.

Similarly, McLean, who is head of the police's Community and Safety Branch, said he was not entirely satisfied with the pace of the programme, but agreed that much was being done.

"I am not satisfied, I would like to see more being done, But we are working with what we have," asserted McLean. "A good deal of things are going on, but more could be done in affected communities.

He said what was being pursued has to be measured in the context of the challenges being encountered by the country.

Making progress

"There is always more that could be done, but you have to make do with what you have."

McLean cited partnerships involving the Social Development Commission, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, the Security and Justice Programme and the Community Security Initiative.

"We have been making much more progress since the appointment of the previous police commissioner (Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin)."

He said much emphasis was being placed on training each member of the Jamaica Consta-bulary Force, the Island Special Constabulary Force, district constables and civilian staff of these organisations in the art of community policing.

McLean said that to this end, workshops are being convened on community policing.

He said there were performance indicators guiding the work of the Community and Safety Branch.