CaribWorldNews, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Fri. July 23, 2010: With Jamaica`s state of emergency set to expire last night, the country`s police commissioner on Thursday outlined a series of multi-pronged anti-crime strategies including a number of curfews in at least five areas.
Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington on Thursday announced the curfews among other measures as the department continues to strike back against crime in the Caribbean nation.
As of last night, Ellingston said the curfews will be mounted on a `continuous basis` in several areas where criminals have been located. This will include cordons and search operations.
The commissioner said the police will also intensify their road operations, in the form of traffic enforcement, road blocks and vehicle check points, in an effort to disrupt the movement of mobile armed criminals.
`The intelligence and the evidence which we have garnered through our series of operations clearly indicate that many of these individuals are on the move,` said Commissioner Ellington. `They are moving from community to community as the security forces move at them. Many hardened criminals are caught in traffic stops, and one of the things that we are determined to do, is to ensure that criminals do not feel that they have the freedom of movement around the country, escaping from law enforcement or moving in directions where they commit serious crimes.`
The commissioner added that community policing efforts will also continue, pointing out that this initiative will be rolled out as the security forces move in to demolish gangs and establish normal conditions for this undertaking. He cited Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Matthews Lane and the downtown Kingston market district as examples of areas where this is occurring.
A further 30 day extension in the State of Emergency was sought by the ruling Bruce Golding administration in Parliament on July 20, through a resolution, but this was denied as the 31 votes required to carry the motion were not possible since six of the government Members of Parliament were absent and opposition members abstained.
