Norman Grindley, Staff Photographer
The police have stepped up their presence in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine, following a spate of recent killings. Here police officers carry out a spot check on the Portmore Causeway as part of increased police presence.The police are again calling on Government to resume hanging immediately in light of the recent killings of members of the force.
They are also urging the authorities to fast-track legislative changes and equipment that would lead to the apprehension of criminals.
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes in pointing to the 71 police officers murdered since January 1997, noted that the clear-up rate for these killings had so far been high.
"The word must go out that anyone who takes the life of a policeman will be relentlessly hunted down," he said at a meeting Friday called by Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, to discuss strategies to combat the recent attacks on the police which have left five of them dead in the past month, 10 since the start of the year.
At the meeting, Dr. Phillips stated that recent drug busts by the police which have resulted in millions of dollars worth of illegal substances being confiscated and arrests being made have had a bearing on the spate of attacks on members of the force.
In the meeting with members of the police high command, police officers association, police federation and officials of his Ministry, the Minister warned that there would be no let-up in the pressure against the criminals and said efforts would be "intensified as the police continued to send a strong message to the lawless elements in the society".
He urged the public's support in a new round of measures implemented by the police.
Other concerns included training, procurement of increased firepower, the passage of legislation relating to fingerprinting, plea bargaining, and the upgrading and securing of police stations islandwide.
