Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has signaled his intention to introduce legislation that will require Jamaicans to report known cases of domestic violence.
During a recent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) meeting at Clarendon College, Holness expressed concern at the alarming increase in interpersonal violence, which is contributing to the country’s rising murder rates.
Holness noted that in recent times, many of the mass murders reported on the island have been a result of personal disputes, which are more difficult for the authorities to forecast when compared to gang-related incidents.
“Think about it, how would the police know that somebody is planning to commit a quadruple murder over some private domestic issue? We couldn’t put police at everybody’s doorstep” he said.
The prime minister asserted that society often overlooks non-fatal violence but warned that minor conflicts can escalate into severe incidents.
“In our society, we don’t see the use of violence unless it is fatal, as a problem, but ‘likkle’ violence turn to big violence. And so we have to stop any form of violence from being used or expressed,” Holness said.
A change in policy
To address the rise in domestic violence, Holness said the government will be adjusting its policies as it relates to reporting said incidents.
“It means that the government will have to adjust some of its policies because we have geared our policies to deal with murders which are originating from gang disputes. Now we have to pay more attention to the domestic violence issue,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that he has already signaled to the Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson and National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang of his intent to potentially increase reporting requirements and obligations “for persons with knowledge of domestic disputes” and for persons that “have been brought in and warned for the use of violence and threats.”
“What is happening is that if we allow even the threat of violence to go unanswered, the probability of it materializing is increasing in the environment. So as a strategy, the government will now review the existing laws about threats and the requirement to report any threat or use of violence,” he said.
The reporting obligation would be similar to the existing Childcare and Protection Act, under which individuals can be prosecuted for ignoring child abuse.
Earlier this month, the police commissioner announced that the island has seen a 13% reduction in major crimes since the start of the year, with murders down by 12%.
Read:
- Prime Minister Andrew Holness urges Jamaicans to take a stand against rising crime
- JCF reports 13% reduction in major crimes despite recent uptick in murders
The commissioner said interpersonal violence accounted for 21 percent of total homicides while 66 percent were attributable to gang-related murders.
