ROSE HALL, St James — National Security Minister Robert Montague has issued a stern warning to criminals that their lawlessness will soon come to an end.

“…If you know any criminal, and we all know a criminal or two, tell them, them time up. Tell them that this minister is inviting (them) to go visit the police before the police come visit them. And if you are the parents of them, put down the lawyer fee,” said a tough -talking Montague.

The minister who was addressing the recent National Conference on Citizen Security at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James, said wrongdoers should not say they were not warned as the government seeks to put in place more human resources.

“Who have ears to hear, let them hear. Can’t seh mi neva did warn yuh. Because, for the long term, we intend to put more DC [district constable] into the field, because, I am of the view, district constable is district constable. It means district constable must be in their district, because we know that anything happen anywhere, in three days somebody know,” stated Montague.

The minister said this is why he will be inviting retired police officers and licensed firearm holders to join a special group of volunteers to serve as special district constables.

“Some people say me bringing back home guard. Call it anything you want to call it. If a so, a so. If that is what is going to help us, that is what is going to help us,” he said.

Montague said persons have been asking for tough measures to be taken in fighting crime, but have an issue when the measures are rolled out.

“A lot of people want serious and tough measures and when the serious and tough measures are rolled out, they say hold on, wait little bit. But the criminals do not abide by any rules and I am going to take them on. And, anywhere they find, anywhere they run, any rock they crawl under, they gonna find them, as good people will stand together,” he said.

The security minister also spoke of individuals doing their part in the fight against crime by being united and also doing jury duty when assigned to.

“When you are invited for jury duty, stand up man, you are a Jamaican. …we can’t make criminals let us hide in our own nation. Jamaica don’t belong to them. A who them? A what them for? Let us get angry, we believe in Jamaica,” pleaded a passionate Montague.

The purpose of the workshop was to bring together local stakeholders to engage in dialogue on citizen security promotion, within the context of the ministry’s five-pillar crime management strategy. The pillars include: crime prevention through social development, effective policing processes, sure and swift justice, reducing re-offending and situational prevention.