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Undercover cops summoned to fight extortion in Jamaica
2010-07-14 17:54:03 | (0 Comments)
Some business operators in the Downtown Kingston, Jamaica commercial district are calling for undercover police personnel to help deal with an upsurge in robbery, extortion and threats to their establishments, over the past three weeks.
The police, as well as the heads of the umbrella organisations, have expressed surprise at the alarm being raised by the business operators.
Members of the business community dispatched an SOS signal, in the face of innovative ploys which they say are being mounted against them by alleged extortionists.
However, Assistant Police Commissioner, Les Green, insists that plain clothes policemen are assigned to the area.
He says there are indications that cases of extortion have minimised significantly.
He told The Gleaner that the police have made several arrests recently in relation to allegations of extortion in the downtown area.
ACP Green also stressed that persons who are victims of extortion in recent weeks must make a report to have the matter investigated.
The senior police officer's sentiment was echoed by President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Joseph Matalon, and Chairman of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Milton Samuda.
Matalon said he was unable to comment as he was off the island, but Samuda expressed surprise, noting that he had not received a single report.
He added that not even rumblings from the ground had reached his ear.
However a member of the downtown business district told The Gleaner that no business is being spared as the extortionists, without their source of income for over six weeks, are becoming increasingly desperate.
The operator said these establishments are not members of the umbrella groups and are driven by fear away from the police.
Business operators theorise that men in the area conspire with others from outside the community to hold up and rob the establishment to demonstrate that security is needed.
A business operator told The Gleaner that the demanding fee is set at about $60,000 weekly.
It’s understood that the strategy being employed by the extortionists is to make a demand and if the operator fails to comply, then his business establishment is broken into and goods taken out.
2010-07-14 17:54:03 | (0 Comments)
Some business operators in the Downtown Kingston, Jamaica commercial district are calling for undercover police personnel to help deal with an upsurge in robbery, extortion and threats to their establishments, over the past three weeks.
The police, as well as the heads of the umbrella organisations, have expressed surprise at the alarm being raised by the business operators.
Members of the business community dispatched an SOS signal, in the face of innovative ploys which they say are being mounted against them by alleged extortionists.
However, Assistant Police Commissioner, Les Green, insists that plain clothes policemen are assigned to the area.
He says there are indications that cases of extortion have minimised significantly.
He told The Gleaner that the police have made several arrests recently in relation to allegations of extortion in the downtown area.
ACP Green also stressed that persons who are victims of extortion in recent weeks must make a report to have the matter investigated.
The senior police officer's sentiment was echoed by President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Joseph Matalon, and Chairman of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Milton Samuda.
Matalon said he was unable to comment as he was off the island, but Samuda expressed surprise, noting that he had not received a single report.
He added that not even rumblings from the ground had reached his ear.
However a member of the downtown business district told The Gleaner that no business is being spared as the extortionists, without their source of income for over six weeks, are becoming increasingly desperate.
The operator said these establishments are not members of the umbrella groups and are driven by fear away from the police.
Business operators theorise that men in the area conspire with others from outside the community to hold up and rob the establishment to demonstrate that security is needed.
A business operator told The Gleaner that the demanding fee is set at about $60,000 weekly.
It’s understood that the strategy being employed by the extortionists is to make a demand and if the operator fails to comply, then his business establishment is broken into and goods taken out.