The minister said that the offshore toll-free telephone line - 1-800-CORRUPT or 1-800-267-7878 - is a "secure, anonymous line which will not be accessed by local police officers".

MacMillan made the announcement during an address to the nation last evening. The national security minister has also repeated the announcement of a 211 hotline for children in danger.

The proposal alludes to low public confidence in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, a notion which several opinion polls have corroborated. More than 50 policemen have been arrested on corruption charges this year.

Unnecessary, confusing

Peter Bunting, the opposition spokesman on national security, said yesterday the slew of toll-free emergency lines was mind-boggling.

"The Opposition is concerned that this proliferation of hotline numbers - already we have 311 for Crime Stop, 811 for Kingfish and 119 for the police emergencies - is unnecessary and may be confusing for the public," Bunting said in a release yesterday.

He added: "It would seem more efficient and desirable to develop one emergency number with properly trained, professional call-centre operators who would route the calls to the appropriate unit for response based on the subject matter of the call."

Community action

MacMillan said yesterday that the upsurge in criminal violence, in particular attacks against women and children, has left most Jamaicans fearful. He has appealed to citizens to play their part in securing their communities.

More than 1,400 persons have been murdered since January. At least five persons were murdered on the weekend.

MacMillan has linked 80 per cent of the killings to an estimated 200 gangs which, he said, are "directly connected to a global criminal network which not only controls the trade in illicit drugs but the growing trade in human trafficking as well".

Meanwhile, Bunting has chided MacMillan for not addressing the drugs-for-guns trade between Jamaica and Haiti.