OCR clarifies management of toll free child abuse reporting number-‘1-888-PROTECT’ and opening hours
May 19, 2015
The Office of the Children’s Registry, OCR, an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Culture, wishes to advise the public that the toll free number 1-888-PROTECT which is used for the reporting of known or suspected child abuse cases is effectively managed by the agency. The OCR also wishes to advise that our call centre is open to receive reports, Mondays to Fridays from 7am to 11pm. In addition, the agency facilitates the collection of reports through six different avenues as follows:
1. CALL: Toll free:1-888-PROTECT (1-888-776-8328)
LIME: 908-2132/754-9133/822-7031 (cell)
DIGICEL: 618-5888/878-2882 (cell)
FLOW: 631-8933/631-8908
2. FAX: 908-2579
3. EMAIL: report@ocr.gov.jm
4. BB: Download the Child Abuse Reporting Systems (CARS) Blackberry Application
5. VISIT the OCR (addresses below)
6. MAIL the OCR (addresses below)
• Kingston-12, Carlton Crescent, Kingston 10.
• Manchester-Lot 19 Caledonia Mall, Mandeville, Manchester
• St. Ann-Lee Sin’s Tyre Centre, Shop 15 to 16, Windsor Road, St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann
• Westmoreland-Shop 10, Hendon Mall, Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland
Registrar at the OCR, Mr. Greig Smith notes with concern, misconceptions that have been circulating in the media in recent days about the management of the agency’s toll free number as well as opening hours. Mr. Smith says “I wish to reiterate that our offices are open to receive calls from 7am to 11pm on weekdays and to accommodate walk-ins, Mondays to Thursdays, 8:30 am to 5pm and on Fridays, from 8:30am to 4pm. The OCR continues to operate for 16 hours per day on weekdays based on the recognized need to access our office in recent years. While consideration is being given to extending the opening hours of the agency due to added demand for our services, such action would also necessitate increasing the staff complement of the agency. The OCR has made submissions for additional staff and is awaiting approval from the relevant Ministries. In addition I wish to inform members of the public that we accept ‘please call me’ messages on 878-2882 and 822-7031. Once such a message is received an officer will call to take the report.” Persons wish to make reports during the hours when the OCR is inaccessible due to closure are encouraged to contact the Police by calling 119 or calling or visiting the nearest Police station.
Members of the public are also being reminded that all reports of known or suspected missing of abused children made to the Registry are kept confidential and you do not have to give your name when making a report.
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For further information, please contact Mrs. Julia Smiley Green, Public Relations Officer
at the Children’s Registry at julia.green@ocr.gov.jm
