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Red light for blue movies
Dwayne McLeod, Staff Reporter
The police say they will be implementing tougher measures to aid in the fight against illegal porn DVD sellers who noticeably line the streets of Half-Way Tree and downtown Kingston.
These DVDs often bear the images of scantily clad or fully naked women and are offered for sale to just about anyone.
Crime chief for the St. Andrew Central division, Deputy Superintendent McArthur Sutherland said the police have been trying to clamp down on the activity, but as soon as they leave the scene, the sellers return.
cat-and-mouse game
"It's like a cat and mouse game, even when you think there is none, they come out at 10 or 11 in the night. They sell at this time of the night also because there is a demand," DSP Sutherland said before adding that nevertheless, the police have made seizures and arrests.
DSP Sutherland also explained to THE STAR that engaging in such an activity warrants a charge of breaches of the Copyright Act.
Special Sergeant Stephen Watson of Harman Barracks police told THE STAR the police are aware of the situation in the downtown area and said that if convicted, one can be fined up to $1 million per movie.
Nevertheless, the vendors are adamant that despite the efforts of the police, they will continue to offer the DVDs for sale as it is profitable.
"Di police dem a deal wid we a way, mi naw lie. Mi jus' haffi keep mi eye open a look out fi dem 'cause di blue movie dem really help mek wi eat a food," Troysaid.
According to statements from the vendors, they make as much as $3,500 per week solely from the sale of porn DVDs.
Prices for these movies vary from seller to seller but range from $150 to $300.
"Some people jus' love di blue movie thing, yaw man. Pon a bad day, mi sell at least five blue movie. Pon a good day, all a dozen mi sell easy, easy, and dat a jus' inna a few hours 'cause wi haffi a look out fi di police dem," Troy, a DVD vendor who operates in Half-Way Tree, told THE STAR.
Another vendor, Marvin, who operates in downtown Kingston, made a similar claim and noted that while they are reaping profits from the sale of blue movies, the possibility exists to make even more profits.
"Yu si just like how some people come a town come buy food, a suh some people come buy blues, dem sell like hot bread. When wi haffi think bout the sale a di res' a movie dem, wi nuh haffi worry 'bout blue movie, 'cause a sure sale. All 10, 12 mi sell inna a day, even though we haffi a run and hide from police. If a neva fi dem all two times dat wi coulda sell," he said.
Sergeant Watson noted to THE STAR that the police have strategies geared towards ending the problem.
"We are quite aware of the situation and have implemented strategies to confiscate the videos, as well as to make arrests." he said.
Sergeant Watson, however, added, "We have confiscated DVDs but have not been able to make arrests in connection with the seizures."
on the lookout
In explaining, he said, "The criminal underworld operates with persons being on the lookout, so on the arrival of the police, the sellers flee."
In reference to what they describe as high demand for porn movies, vendors with whom THE STAR spoke noted that while persons from about every age group buy the movies, they claimed the that young adults were responsible for the majority of their sales.
"As me tell yuh, nuff people a request dem, but a mostly di young people dem. Dem weh inna bout di 17-to-23 age group, a dem mostly but dat nuh mean seh old people nun buy 'cause dem love it to," Marvin explained.
However, DSP Sutherland noted that "the police have taken a zero-tolerance approach to minor offences. This stance will definitely help in the crime-fighting effort in the Half-Way Tree area." Names withheld.
Dwayne McLeod, Staff Reporter
The police say they will be implementing tougher measures to aid in the fight against illegal porn DVD sellers who noticeably line the streets of Half-Way Tree and downtown Kingston.
These DVDs often bear the images of scantily clad or fully naked women and are offered for sale to just about anyone.
Crime chief for the St. Andrew Central division, Deputy Superintendent McArthur Sutherland said the police have been trying to clamp down on the activity, but as soon as they leave the scene, the sellers return.
cat-and-mouse game
"It's like a cat and mouse game, even when you think there is none, they come out at 10 or 11 in the night. They sell at this time of the night also because there is a demand," DSP Sutherland said before adding that nevertheless, the police have made seizures and arrests.
DSP Sutherland also explained to THE STAR that engaging in such an activity warrants a charge of breaches of the Copyright Act.
Special Sergeant Stephen Watson of Harman Barracks police told THE STAR the police are aware of the situation in the downtown area and said that if convicted, one can be fined up to $1 million per movie.
Nevertheless, the vendors are adamant that despite the efforts of the police, they will continue to offer the DVDs for sale as it is profitable.
"Di police dem a deal wid we a way, mi naw lie. Mi jus' haffi keep mi eye open a look out fi dem 'cause di blue movie dem really help mek wi eat a food," Troysaid.
According to statements from the vendors, they make as much as $3,500 per week solely from the sale of porn DVDs.
Prices for these movies vary from seller to seller but range from $150 to $300.
"Some people jus' love di blue movie thing, yaw man. Pon a bad day, mi sell at least five blue movie. Pon a good day, all a dozen mi sell easy, easy, and dat a jus' inna a few hours 'cause wi haffi a look out fi di police dem," Troy, a DVD vendor who operates in Half-Way Tree, told THE STAR.
Another vendor, Marvin, who operates in downtown Kingston, made a similar claim and noted that while they are reaping profits from the sale of blue movies, the possibility exists to make even more profits.
"Yu si just like how some people come a town come buy food, a suh some people come buy blues, dem sell like hot bread. When wi haffi think bout the sale a di res' a movie dem, wi nuh haffi worry 'bout blue movie, 'cause a sure sale. All 10, 12 mi sell inna a day, even though we haffi a run and hide from police. If a neva fi dem all two times dat wi coulda sell," he said.
Sergeant Watson noted to THE STAR that the police have strategies geared towards ending the problem.
"We are quite aware of the situation and have implemented strategies to confiscate the videos, as well as to make arrests." he said.
Sergeant Watson, however, added, "We have confiscated DVDs but have not been able to make arrests in connection with the seizures."
on the lookout
In explaining, he said, "The criminal underworld operates with persons being on the lookout, so on the arrival of the police, the sellers flee."
In reference to what they describe as high demand for porn movies, vendors with whom THE STAR spoke noted that while persons from about every age group buy the movies, they claimed the that young adults were responsible for the majority of their sales.
"As me tell yuh, nuff people a request dem, but a mostly di young people dem. Dem weh inna bout di 17-to-23 age group, a dem mostly but dat nuh mean seh old people nun buy 'cause dem love it to," Marvin explained.
However, DSP Sutherland noted that "the police have taken a zero-tolerance approach to minor offences. This stance will definitely help in the crime-fighting effort in the Half-Way Tree area." Names withheld.
That's the funny part!
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