Police reach out to students

There may have been a shortage of crime news in tonight’s broadcast, but there is plenty to report involving the police. And for once, the news is positive.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

On June 30th, primary schools across the country will be closing for the summer holiday. While some children will be going away for their vacation, there are many more who will be staying at home with very little to do. With this in mind, this week, the police launched Link Up 2000. The programme takes law enforcement officers, along with representatives of the Department of Corrections into schools where they talk to students about the problems affecting them and what they can do to avoid the many dangers that are out there.

Sgt. Gilbert Pitts, O.C, Zone Beat Liaison Officer Programme

“Link up 2000 is another way of the police trying to get across to the youths, to let them understand that a lot of things have been happening out there and we need to get out there and try to beat them to the punch to let them know that the police want to help. So this is another extension from the Zone Beat Liaison Officers Programme where the police is out there into the communities and now we are trying to get into the schools and to let them know that school is going to be out shortly and they will have a lot of free time on their hands, so we want them to find something constructive to do.”

The students are being encouraged to get involved with sporting activities, summer school and camping and any other positive activity that will be held.

Sharon Bood, Principal Officer, D.O.C.

“We want them to listen to their elders, we want them to listen to their parents, to ask permission to go out. We want them to seek advice from older people. We want them to take care of the younger children that they will be left with and if they are traveling, we want them to be conscious of all the things that usually happen. There are a lot of crimes. They are a lot of people out there doing good and there is a lot of people doing bad.”

One person who did seem to have an impact on the children is Kelvin Ramclam. Ramclam who is serving 10 years for burglary, explained to the children why its important for them to listen to their parents or they just might end up in trouble like he did.

Kelvin Ramclam, Inmate, D.O.C.

“First of all be obedient referring to my personal life, why I am in prison. Obedient because it is because of being disobedient, has me in prison right now. I was disobedient to my mother, my father and my elders and even to myself and then I went on to doing drugs. So the main word, the key word will be obedience.”

The children said they learned a lot from the session and have committed themselves to stay out trouble and will advise their friends to do the same.

Shane Williams, 12 years old

“I learned that the police are trying to do their best to help our country and to the back of the prison, there a lot of problems affecting them, food that none of us would never want to eat and they always get picked on for people to fight with them.”

Jacqueline Woods

“Definitely reasons why you should stay out of trouble?”

Shane Williams

“Yes ma’am.”

Leo Usher, 13 years old

“I’d advise them not to do drugs cause it is terrible to go back there because many people are trying their best, the police are trying their best and I would tell all my friends it is very terrible back there.”

Leesha Pollard, 11 years old

“Like me I would go to have fun to be active, to practice my carnival and do whatever I have to do and not get into violence and tell my friends about what the police told us about today and have fun.”

Lisa Watler, 12 years old

“Because it tells you not to do drugs and not to go off the streets running and go and dress in naked clothes to get men attracted to you and touch you. When they touch you and do very bad things, you tell them no or you can call the number.”

Jacqueline Woods

“What’s that number?”

Lisa Watler

“1-800-333-333-3.”

The visits to the primary schools will come to an end on June 17th. On that day, the Police Department will host a social mixer at the Saint John’s College Student Centre from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. All youths are invited to attend.