THE Ministry of National Security has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 18 Govenment and private entities to facilitate the exchange of information for the Jamaica Crime Observatory.

The agreement was signed last Thursday at the offices headquarters in Kingston.

The observatory is a web-based crime and violence information platform and early warning system that allows stakeholders to assist authorities with the systematic collection and analysis of crime data.

On Thursday, Courtney Brown, director of crime prevention and community safety at the ministry, welcomed the move.

“Data collected in the system will allow for a more targeted response in tackling crimes as it will enable authorities to map crimes and other issues, where they are occurring, and where they are concentrated,” said Brown.

Scarlette Gillings, managing director of Jamaica Social Investment Fund — one of the signatories — described the observatory as an empowering tool at the (Security) Ministry’s disposal.

“Stakeholders in crime and violence prevention can analyse the data and feed results to the policy level to ensure that targeted decisions are made about responding in the immediate to long-term,” said Gillings.

She said this would also allow authorities to treat risk factors while strengthening the capacity of first time responders to violence.

Other stakeholders also hailed the move, stating that it will ensure standardisation and accessibility of timely and reliable crime statistics.

The Crime Observatory is made up of individuals representing a variety of stakeholders, from Government departments, NGOs, community associations and the private sector.

Apart from the national security ministry, the other signatories are the Ministry of Justice; Registrar General’s Department; Ministry of Education; JSIF; Statistical Institute of Jamaica; Forensic Science Laboratory; Jamaica Constabulary Force; Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing; Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; Court Management System; Child Development Agency; Bureau of Women’s Affairs; Ministry of Local Government and Community Development; Planning Institute of Jamaica; Violence Prevention Alliance; and the Insurance Association of Jamaica.