Senator Dwight Nelson Crime Plan and MNP - pure genius

I shot the sheriff

But I did not shoot the Deputy

Excerpt from the song “I Shot the Sheriff” by Bob Marley

Senator Dwight Nelson, Minister of National Security and Justice, recently made his presentation in Parliament that seemed to have passed through one ear of John Public and out the other, as apparently they are thoroughly hypnotized by the crime statistics that are now prominently being displayed at the top of the Gleaner newspaper.

Despite this crime level being the norm since 2000 and before, as the number of people murdered will naturally be more than the number of days in a year.

Had people been paying attention, they would have realized that the new crime strategy is not only genius, but is a mixture of both old and very fresh ideas that require groundbreaking legislative changes that once implemented, would make criminals have not only a hard time communicating, but moving around in Public, whether it be in a motor vehicle or in Public spaces.

His Crime Initiative consists of re-invigorating the community policing efforts and focusing on dismantling gangs as well as the use of technology in the form of DNA and other forensic evidence to secure convictions in the absence of witnesses, increased use of CCTV Cameras and the legislative changes required to make it legal to use as well as the implementation of mandatory registration of Mobile phone subscribers

Effectively the first step in MNP (Mobile Number Portability) as stated in the article “Cellphone monitoring important to fighting crime - Nelson - Government introduces mandatory registration of subscribers”, published Saturday, May 01, 2010, by ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

Like I said, straight genius………..

Lets us start with Community Policing. This is a very effective strategy that is in dire need of revitalization among concerned John Public, due to the social stigma among most Jamaicans as it relates to being branded an “Informer”, which the Police have to get around by forging partnerships with the people, so as to create trust.

In most gated communities in Jamaica, the very simple Neighbourhood Watch programme has always been and is still a very successful means of keep crime out of neighborhoods that have law-abiding citizens who are concerned enough about their safety that they are willing to report criminal activities in a timely manner by being good neighbours and looking out for each other. Thus, Community Policing should be no less successful.

This is a very important element in any crime fighting strategy, as the people being affected cannot simply allow disenchanted young people and adults to loiter around in their communities and eventually form themselves in gangs.

Thus Anti-Gang Legislation that has been mired in debate in Parliament thus far should come to light, as political maneuvering on the issue, mainly to avoid Human Rights and Advocacy Groups, should no longer be necessary.

The statistics bring to light the dire need for more direct confrontation by the Police with the social roots of the problem, as criminal behavior cannot be blamed on Dancehall Music, Unemployment, the Drug Trade and other forms of anti-social expression in society alone.

Thus by going after gangs and their formation by targeting at risk youth and adults via Community Policing is a bold step, and it is hoped that this time around the Minister of National Security and Justice via the Police will seek to form partnerships with the people, encourage the formation of Neighbourhood Watches and sensitize people with the need to come forward and report criminal activities and thus wean communities such as Tivoli Gardens off a dependence on gangs and “badmen” who prey on them.

People have to be resilient in the face of the criminal elements, take a stand by reporting suspicious activity to the Police or give information on crimes to ensure convictions.

But then such members of John Public are skeptical, even branding my last comment as crazy, as reporting as a witness to a crime is tantamount to committing suicide. So what protection does the State offer to John Public when he decides to become a witness to a crime?

Again, Senator Dwight Nelson, Minister of National Security and Justice had also proposed legislative amendments to use DNA, fingerprints and other forensic evidence to secure convictions as opposed to merely being evidence in a crime. Forensic evidence is used in Jurisprudence of the United States of America to secure criminal convictions combined and in some states in lieu of witness statements and witness courtroom testimony.

This is very essential legislative change, especially in Cases where witnesses testified but are afraid to trust the Police and come forward to give courtroom testimony, often being killed allegedly by the accused, thus allowing the Courts the leeway to use forensic evidence, such a fingerprints and DNA to positively identify criminal perpetrators and thus secure a conviction after having exhausted the route of witnesses, especially in case where such evidence is available and witnesses to the crime are afraid to come forward.

In addition to these legislative requirements, there is also a need to train members of the Police force in crime scene investigation and forensic analysis of the crime scene. Effectively, this means the acquiring of equipment to improve Forensic Unit and more training of Forensic Specialist in the field.

Improvements in the Witness Protection Program are also a necessity as well as legislation to address issues of Police brutality and extrajudicial killings, long been the bane of the Human Rights and Advocacy Groups, still crying foul as we have yet to fully implement legislative changes that allow for Police to be held accountable for their actions deemed excessive against the Jamaica citizenry and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

It is being held up in Parliament in debates about death penalty, as stated in the article “Rights charter sits in limbo”, published Tuesday April 6, 2010 by Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

At this point John Public feels a bit more relaxed and is now a bit curious about the technological side of Senator Dwight Nelson, Minister of National Security and Justice Crime Initiative, involving CCTV Cameras. In the case of CCTV Cameras, these can be installed using a private contractor paid via Traffic Tickets as declared by Paula Fletcher, Executive Director of the NRSC (National Road Safety Council).

Already the Government of Jamaica, in the form of the NRCS had declared the coming of Electronic Ticketing, as stated in the article “CCTV speed Traps - Surveillance Cams to track Road Hogs”, published Monday July 13, 2009 by Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner in eighteen months (18) since the Publication of this article.

It is hoped that this system will come on stream sooner and its implementation would see the fulfillment of the mandate set by Senator Dwight Nelson, Minister of Security, stated in the Local Segment of Prime Time News aired Thursday April 1^st 2010, Television Jamaica in Parliament on Thursday April 1^st 2010 that the Ministry of National Security intend to raise almost JA$350 million in Traffic fines this year, an increase of JA$100 million over last years figure, an increased enforcement of the Road Traffic Act, thus reducing the carnage on the roadways.

But it has more far reaching implications in that it would not only result in the implementation of the so-called Automated Electronic Traffic System similar to as exists in Britain, eliminating Police corruption and freeing them from Traffic duty to fight more serious crime as stated by Superintendent Claude Reynolds, head of the Traffic Division

It would also result in fundamental changes in the laws as it relates to the treatment of evidence and the use of electronic recordings i.e. still photographs, Video or Audio, be they digital or analog at the time of recording the offence, provided that the witness can prove that their electronic recording device is registered in their name, making electronic evidence authentic and habeus corpus for a conviction for any crime.

These legislative changes that would legitimize the use of electronic recordings i.e. still photographs, Video or Audio, be they digital or analog at the time of recording the offence in would empower both Police and citizenry who possess electronic recording devices such as Cameras, Mobile phones with Camera, recording devices to get them registered with the Police, a media house e.g. TVJ, CVM TV, or other media authority acting on behalf of the CCN (Constabulary Communication Network)

This is to allow for easy capture of evidence, the electronic device undergoing special tests by the Bureau of Standards to verify that its recordings have not been altered or tampered with in any way.

Thus citizens can just simply turn in evidence in the form of electronic recordings i.e. still photographs, Video or Audio, be they digital or analog at the time of recording of a crime much in the same way and via the same media as currently done via the PSOJ (Private Sector Organization of Jamaica) Crime Stop Initiative.

The same Media Houses as the Third Party collector of evidence, guaranteeing anonymity to the witnesses by virtue of the Media Houses legitimate right to protect their sources of information.

With the build out of 3G from LIME and CLARO and the coming of WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) broadband internet islandwide from Digicel, slated to cover 90% of the island, as stated in the article “Digicel to offer mini Laptops with 4G service next year”, published Friday September 4, 2009, The Jamaica Gleaner.

ZTE Corp of China as their build out partner of their new WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Network as stated in the article “Digicel signs ZTE as 4G Mobile WiMaX internet partner”, published Sunday, September 27, 2009, The Jamaica Observer capable of carrying high definition Video and Audio from Wireless IP Cameras positioned at roads, bridges and intersections all over Jamaica, it would be impossible for crime to be committed without a set of Cameras watching.

A fact that privacy advocates cannot dispute. Even better, with such far reaching legislation, the CCN can get creative. RC helicopters can be retrofitted to be controlled using 3G or WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) to carry the control signaling and Audio and visual information from several mini InfraRed Cameras mounted on the miniaturized helicopter piloted via laptop or even a smart phone.

Making real-time surveillance and reconnaissance at night possible, without Police having to risk themselves in the process, especially it is a dangerous area which would normally require helicopter surveillance support from the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force), thus saving on fuel and manpower.

A Database could be made of all the wanted criminals and using facial recognition Software similar to that of Face.com being used on FaceBook as suggested in the article “Face.com opens its face recognition tech to devs”, published May 3, 2010 10:00 AM PDT, by Josh Lowensohn, CNET News.

This Database made searchable in real-time, would allow the CCN to positively identify criminals as they move about in towns and developed areas in Jamaica, giving them no freedom of movement, as on being spotted, the Police can move in and have them arrested for their past felonies.

Cameras in private business establishments can also be connected to the system via a set top box that would give the CCN access to Video from within private business places frequented by the Public e.g. department stores, malls shops, etc. expanding their range of view, a small loss of privacy voluntarily given up in order to expand the Police’s ability to capture wanted criminals, be it for Traffic Ticket Violations or Murder.

With 3G and WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) broadband internet islandwide from Digicel, slated to cover 90% of the island, security companies and the CCN would account for nearly 80% of the business customer base of Wireless broadband internet.

But it is the mandatory registration of Mobile Phone Instruments that has me giddy, as this is actually the first step towards MNP (Mobile Number Portability) a necessity as stated by the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) Director General Ahmad Zia Mian.

Jamaica has used up all of the eight million (8,000,000) phone numbers that were assigned to our LATA (Local Access Transport Area) in 2000 after the Liberalization of the Telecoms Sector by then Senator Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Telecommunications, with only one million (1,000,000) being left.

As efficiency is demand by the NANP (North American Numbering Plan) in order to get extra numbers the adoption of MNP as a precursor to the expected demand for new numbers with the coming new services being offered in the summer by the Big Three (3) Telecoms Providers Digicel, LIME and CLARO is indeed a necessity as published in the article “OUR signals policy shift on portability - Says Jamaica running out of phone numbers”, published Friday November 20, 2009 by Mark Titus, Business Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Registration of Phone Numbers, Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMEI and SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMSI using Government of Jamaica approved identification i.e. Voters ID, Drivers License, Passport, TRN, Birth Certificate is essential component of MNP, and is usually accomplished after an audit of the Telecoms Provider’s Customer and Subscriber base is completed.

However, it can also be done without the initial audit, as the audit is really necessary only to ascertain the Inactive Phone Numbers, Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMEI and SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMSI in the Telecoms Provider’s Switch. But the implications of this, which I consider to the boldest move by any Minister of National Security, are mind-boggling.

Once Registration commences, it creates the perfect setup for MNP, which is currently being researched by the OUR in terms of a cost-benefit analysis, research slated to be completed by June 2010 as stated in the article “Paulwell calls for number portability”, published Wednesday April 21, 2010 by Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner and as such would dovetail neatly into the long term future of the Telecoms Sector.

Then there is the implications as it relates to criminal gangs, many of whom are subscribers to the services of the various Telecoms Providers and use their networks to organize their criminal activities using Unregistered Mobile Phones, often with Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMEI and SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMSI purchased without registration of any form.

The Government of Mexico has seized upon this fact, and had begun to force the Telecoms Providers in that country to disconnect the Mobile phones of nearly twenty six million (26,000,000) Mexicans by the end of the week, specifically April 17^th and 18^th 2010 if they fail to register themselves by the aforementioned dates, using their Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion (CURP) [CURP, in English]

This is supposed to be a unique ID for every Mexican citizen as reported by Reuters and repeated by CNET Loaded aired April 12^th 2010 by Natalie Del Conte, CNET News

This is an unprecedented move by any country, Developed or Developing, but perfectly legal, as Mobile subscribers do not own their Mobile phones or Mobile phone service, and registration would not only help to positively identify legitimate Mobile phone users but also prevent criminals from using Mobile phones, as obviously they would not have a legitimate CURP and if they did, it would assist the Police with the co-operation of the Telecoms Providers to identify wanted criminals based on their information being entered to register their Mobile phones.

Registration using Government of Mexico approved identification i.e. CURP would create the need among Telecoms Provider, as a means of protecting their Customers and Subscribers base, to put in place policies and mechanisms to stop the Unauthorized Access to the Telecoms  Providers Networks by Customers and Subscribers who either:

1.      Purchase Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) from one Telecoms Provider (whether local or abroad)

2.      Unlock them and place them on another Telecoms Provider Network without contacting the Telecoms Provider Customer Care Center whose Network the Customers and Subscribers are attempting to access

It will also make the purchase of SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) or Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) from Unlicensed Third Party Vendors of these Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) who do not register the sale of the Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMEI and SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMSI difficult.

It would also make it difficult for Customers and Subscribers who are accessing Telecoms Provider Network and attempting to access or purchase of SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) or Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) from Telecoms Provider without registering the Customers and Subscribers using Government of Mexico approved identification i.e. CURP.

One such necessary measure of MNP is that Telecoms Providers could have to make it mandatory to pair the Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems)  IMEI and SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMSI in the Telecoms Providers Switch Equipment.

This would be done in such a ways such that the if during the execution of a Mobile phone call there is a mismatch of the Phone Instruments (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMEI and SIM Cards (Mobile, fixed line Mobile, Landline or Wired /Wireless modems) IMSI in the Common Database of Available Numbers, SIM IMSI and Phone Instrument IMEI, the call will be blocked.

The Phone Instruments unable to make or receive calls or any other form of communication and would be effectively be barred from working on any of the other Telecoms Providers Networks, which is effectively a requirement of MNP.

Disconnection of Mobile customers can also be imposed on the Telecoms Providers by the Government of Jamaica, as the Telecoms Providers would be presented with a similar moral dilemma which would paint them in a bad light, as if they refuse, they can both in the court of John Public as well as in real court, be take to task with the fact that they are in effect aiding and abetting the criminals and their ability to communicate.

Thus, the actions of The Government of Mexico, albeit draconian, can be replicated by the Government of Jamaica and combined with CCTV Cameras installed at every Telecoms Providers Customer Care Office, facial recognition Software could even identify criminals as they enter the Telecoms Providers Customer Care Office, allowing the Police to immediately respond and arrest the persons in question for everything from Traffic Ticket Violations to Murder.

Even better is the applications as it relates to tapping Mobile phone conversations. Currently to do this legally, one has to get a court order [subpoena] from a Puisne Judge, but with registration positively identifying the customers.

This process is considerably made easier, as the CCN only have to provide reasonable justification for suspecting the person of a crime, which can, ironically be as simple as a Traffic Ticket Violations to Murder in order to gain this access to tapping the suspect’s Mobile phone from within the Telecom Provider’s Network.

Additionally, the CCN can also tap phone conversations via the use of an Open Source Solution provided by Dr. Karsten Kohl, who holds a PhD in computer engineering from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Karsten Kohl, with assistance from the Open Source Community, demonstrated a practical means by which A5/1 64 bit GSM voice encryption and eventually the A5/3 128 bit GSM voice encryption can be easily decrypted using off-the-shelf computer equipment as stated the article “Q&A: Researchers Karsten Nohl on Mobile eavesdropping”, published January 1, 2010 4:00 AM PST by Elinor Mills, InSecurity Complex – CNET News, also with an easily obtained court order [subpoena] thanks to all Mobile phones being registered.

Obtaining Mobile phone, fixed line or Landline call records or tracking information from Telecoms Providers is also easily worked into our legislation and requires no subpoena.

This information stored in the Telecoms Provider’s Database belongs to the Telecoms Provider and can be used by the Telecom Provider for VAS (Value Added Services, such as placement in a phone directory. The case with FLOW and some of it supposedly “private” customers as stated in the article “Privacy Breached - FLOW Clients railing against Directory Listing”, published January 31^st 2010, the Sunday Gleaner by Mark Titus, Business Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner is strikingly familiar

It can be easily argued in Jamaica Jurisprudence that customers cannot expect a reasonable level of privacy with regards to information stored about them in a Telecoms Providers Database as is the case in the United States of America, which has similar laws to Jamaica as it relates to privacy of customer information in Third Party Databases

The Obama Administration has argued successfully that warrantless tracking is permitted because Americans enjoy no “reasonable expectation of privacy” in their cell phones' whereabouts. The U.S. Department of Justice lawyers argued that “a customer's Fourth Amendment rights are not violated when the phone company reveals to the government its own records” i.e. Mobile device placed and received calls as stated in the article “Feds push for tracking cell phones”, published February 11, 2010 4:00 AM PST by Declan McCullagh, CNET News - Politics and Law.

Thus Mobile Triangulation, or geo-location, using either GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) installed in Mobile smart phones or Mobile triangulation.

This can be the traditional Triangulation technology employed by some Telecom Providers such as Vodafone in England or the novel single channel single tower solution provided by start-up GloPos for Mobile phones without GPS as stated my blog article entitled “Mobile Triangulation - A Solution to Crime under our Noses”.

Geo-location is currently popular with users of Mobile phones on their FaceBook and Twitter updates as stated in the article “Facebook will Allow users to share Location”, published March 9th 2010 1:44pm, by Nick Bolton, New York Times – Technology, can be implemented and offered to the CCN as a means of tracking the location of known criminals, be they Traffic Ticket Violations or Murderers.

Telecoms Providers can benefit, not only by having the CCN as a client for this service, but also by Telecoms Providers offering the geo-location as a VAS, possibly being made into a Mobile Social Networking Platform that is paid for via Mobile phone advertising allowing geo-location based advertising and customers the ability to find missing persons, once they have a Mobile phone that is active and turned on

Not to mention identify people calling them from unknown numbers, the typical scenario of the kidnapping as alluded and lauded by Opposition Senator Sandrea Falconer as stated in the “Cellphone monitoring important to fighting crime - Nelson - Government introduces mandatory registration of subscribers”, published Saturday, May 01, 2010,  by ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

But why stop there?

The Ministry of National Security, once IP based CCTV Cameras are installed islandwide can combine their facial recognition Databases from the CCN, Mobile Phone Registration Databases available from the Telecoms Providers, the information available in the so-called Automated Electronic Traffic System Databases to be set up by the NRCS and the Forensic Databases also set up by the CCN to identify criminals by their faces, Mobile phones and motor vehicles in real-time.

Effectively a form of Augmented Reality, as stated in the article “Augmented Reality Goes Mobile”, published November 3, 2009, 12:44AM EST By Rachael King, BusinessWeek - AUGMENTED REALITY, using Cameras mounted in Police vehicles in conjunction with the Cameras already mounted on roads, bridges and highways.

As vehicles pass by, the Software not only identifies the vehicle but also the driver using either their face (if visible) or their registered Mobile phone, once the person has opted into geo-location. Forensic information can also be brought to bear, either by taking DNA blood or hair samples, fingerprints or other biometric data to positively identify the suspect in real time for any crime from Traffic Ticket Violations to Murder.

This would make Police identification of criminals, be they Traffic Ticket Violations or Murders, as simple as getting a photograph or even an Audio recording of the persons voice, effectively voice recognition.

This is really last cherry atop the delicious cookies and cream ice cream Sundae that I have just written to elucidate the statements of the Senator Dwight Nelson, Minister of National Security and Justice that signal to me the rich, creamy rewards that can be garnered by the Crime Initiative by the implementation of Community Policing, Anti-Gang Legislation, use of Forensic Evidence in solving Cases, both current and cold Cases

Convictions in lieu of witness testimony, CCTV Cameras connected to Databases for Traffic Ticket Violations and facial recognition, registration of Mobile phones making it difficult for criminals to communicate and move around without being tracked and to top it off, the cherry on top indeed.

The combination of the above Forensic, CCTV Traffic Ticket Violations , Facial Recognition and Mobile Phone Registration and Geo-location Databases to enable a real-time Augmented Reality Database available to the CCN and all Police for the quick apprehension of criminals who frequent cities, towns and developed parts of the Jamaica.

A guaranteed, albeit expensive but nonetheless proven method i.e. sharing Databases, of catching criminals in our crazy out-of–control crime situation in Jamaica once the necessary political will is there to implement.

Senator Dwight Nelson, Minister of National Security and Justice, has fate and experience on his side as his son, Julius Nelson was also murdered in 2004 when his apartment was burglared and his Nelson's Honda CRV motor vehicle and several appliances, including his Mobile phone, was stolen, as stated in was “Dwight Nelson's Son murdered”, published Sunday, October 31, 2004, The Jamaica Observer.

Thus, the good Minister is also in the corner of the law-abiding citizen, despite the current perception of a spiraling crime rate, which is merely an illusion created and sensationalized by the media, as the learned John Public, an expert Statistical Analyst, realizes.