NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Dr. Peter Phillips told the nation last night that the Government's newest crime fighting initiative, 'Operation Kingfish', is more than just another police squad.
"On the contrary, it represents a different approach and deserves the support and cooperation of every law-abiding Jamaican," said Dr. Phillips in a nationwide broadcast.
He described the new initiative as an intelligence-driven task force, which represents the combined effort of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and international partners such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
Operation Kingfish will be supported in its operations by elements of other arms of the security forces such as the Special Anti-Crime Task Force (SACTF), Flying Squad, the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) and the JDF.
The minister said the SACTF will split, with one group to be based at the Summit Police Station in St. James, and another section to be headquartered in Clarendon. The task force, he said, will incorporate a community outreach and information component to mobilise and channel support for this purpose.
"Let me affirm once again that in this fight against organised crime there are no untouchables. No one is immune. There are no exceptions. Political affiliation, social status or community of residence does not matter," the Minister emphasised.
In terms of equipping the security forces, the minister said:
One hundred motor vehicles are scheduled to arrive in the island in December.
The rural areas are to get 150 SUVs.
The marine police will get six patrol boats.
The government is currently involved in negotiations to acquire an automated fingerprint identication recovery machine at a cost of $200 million.
Special requests have been made to secure officers from overseas to serve in the JCF.
Repairs are being effected to some of the police stations that were badly damaged during the recent passage of Hurricane Ivan.
And in order to encourage more people to provide the police with information that can be used in the fight against crime, Dr. Phillips said that a new toll-free number, 811 has been put in place. It will be administered by Crime Stop.
