The Crime Monitoring and Oversight Committee, CMOC, has assured that it remains intact and that the signatories remain committed to the objective of enhancing citizen security and reducing crime, violence, and corruption.
The assurance follows discussion about the recent imposition of States of Public Emergency, SOEs, in parts of the country and the unwillingness of the opposition, to endorse the extension of the measure.
These issues have resulted in public concern, about the national consensus on crime.
In a release, the CMOC says its remit does not include taking positions on matters that are not agreed under the 2020 consensus.
It says it remains focused on its mission to monitor the key performance indicators, under the 8 pillars of the consensus.
Its also focused on securing agreement for additional measures that the parties to the consensus may decide to add, from time to time, to further the safety and security of citizens.
CMOC adds that SOEs were not a specific area of agreement under the 2020 consensus.
It notes however, that there was a consensus on the use of the military with the caveat that this should be as prescribed by law.
It says this would apply in all instances where the use of the military was contemplated, including in a Zone of Special Operations, as well as under a State of Emergency.
The committee says the Opposition’s view, is that the use of SOEs had not passed the threshold of being ’as prescribed by law’.
While the government, believes that the SOEs are lawful and that the concerns recently raised by the courts have been adequately resolved with the new legislation.
CMOC says it is not suitably qualified to adjudicate on this matter.
The committee notes that the consensus represents a wide programme of measures aimed at achieving a sustainable reduction in crime, violence and corruption.
It says the “use of the military” is just one of the 40 actions that were agreed to and embedded in the consensus.
As it relates to the disagreement over the use of SOEs, CMOC said the parties had already agreed in the consensus, to pursue new legislation to provide for special powers under an Enhanced Security Measures Act (ESMA).
CMOC notes that a June 2021 timeline for this legislation has passed without a bill being introduced to parliament.
It says the Enhanced Security Measures Act, should resolve the outstanding concerns, so it is very important to get this back on track as quickly as possible.