And while he says his officers are “respecting people’s rightsâ€, those who've experienced crime trends in the city know that an outbreak of violence can sometimes be only a heartbeat away. And that’s where ongoing mediation comes in, to pre-empt retaliation before it erupts. Vidal’s predecessor Chester Williams made his name keeping that effort going - but Vidal has unapologetically taken a different tack. He says he will do the policing and let the CYDP do the mediating; and he strongly urges all the independent mediators to “fall in†with the CYDP’s efforts:…
Sr. Supt. Mark Vidal, OC, Southside Commander
"We are ensuring that we are conducting intelligent policing. How are we doing this? We are prioritizing our sources in the areas that we see are problematic areas; reinforcing those areas and ensuring that we have the adequate intelligence to deal with the situation and we will continue to do so. In terms of any intervention or mediation there is an institution that is certified to do that which is the Conscious Youth Development Programme and any other non-government organization that was out there intervening or mediate; we have no difficulty that they can continue to do that. I do believe though when it is an individual effort there may very well lye a personal agenda so I believe that this has to be institutionalized that it is an institution that is intervening and mediating. So whilst individuals may want to do this and in good faith, I think that at some point it has to be passed on to the institutions that are more opted to carry out those functions."
Jules Vasquez
"Sounds like your saying those unitary members of the mediation teams specifically Mr. Williams, Mrs. Finnegan and I know others rotate in from time to time; should like themselves to an institution rather than doing this thing as individuals."
Sr. Supt. Mark Vidal
"Right I do agree with that."
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