THE POLICE High Command is in the process of pulling 500 police personnel from their administrative responsibilities for deployment on the streets to help bolster the crime-fighting capabilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
The move is part of strategies to meet the demand for extra personnel during the busy Christmas season.
While National Security Minister, Peter Phillips, spoke of the move to deploy more police personnel during a national broadcast Sunday night, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Linval Bailey, said the strategy was not unique.
YEARLY STRATEGY
"This is part of the yearly strategy for the festive season. We will review it after the second week of January 2006," said DCP Bailey. But, on Sunday, Dr. Phillips said civilians would be employed to take on the administrative functions now undertaken by desk-bound officers. It was not immediately clear yesterday whether those now being pulled from their desks would return after the holidays.
According to DCP Bailey, the additional police personnel to be deployed on the streets will be drawn from the general offices, across the various police divisions, including Detention and Courts, Transport and Repairs, the Police Driving School and the Jamaica Police Academy.
DCP Bailey said he should finish compiling the list of police personnel by this weekend.
Apart from regular front-line duties, some of these officers will be involved in traffic management, beat and foot patrols, manning plazas and other commercial districts.
- G.S.
