❒ Record number of illegal weapons recovered last yearTHE St Catherine South Police Division, headquartered at the hundred-man Police station in 2 North, Greater Portmore, broke all previous records in gun recovery in 2008, ridding the streets of 90 illegal firearms spanning rifles, pistols and revolvers with ammunition to boot.

Deputy Superintendent Clive Blair credited a motivated team, cooperative citizens and hands-on police leadership within the division for the success which resulted in gun recovery moving from 78 in 2007 to 90 last year.

"The situation is that we have a good intelligence unit within the St Catherine South division," said Blair. "Citizens in Portmore and Old Harbour have helped us by giving information. The public supports us a lot and the level of information helped us in the huge success in gun recoveries," Blair added, citing other factors.

all-time record

"In addition, persons wanted for various crimes, at least a half of them, have been taken into custody, some charged and convicted and others still before the courts," he pointed out.

An all-time record for the division, last year's haul is being viewed as one of the nation's biggest achievements in crime fighting for the calendar year 2008, a 20-odd per cent increase over 2007, which was also a record year.

Blair, who is in charge of operations at St Catherine South, said leading from in front played a big role in motivating the junior ranks.

"What is happening is that majority of the police in St Catherine South are motivated by leadership," he explained. "We lead from the front. We're out there, at times, with the men and women on the front line and, as a results, we have a good relationship with the junior ranks. We sit with them and show them right from wrong and we're out there with them in the heat of battle. When they see that level of example, they feel more comfortable," he added.

This year has already started on a positive note for St Catherine South. "In the first seven days of the new year, we've recovered four guns," DSP Blair said.