Mark Beckford, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Religious and human rights groups have lambasted the recent attacks on the security forces, describing the attacks as tragic and unfortunate, but reflective of the crime wave gripping the island. Six police officers have been attacked, two fatally, while three are still battling for life and this is within the first six days of the New Year.

Nancy Anderson, legal officer with the Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights (IJCHR), describes the different attacks as a horrendous start for the new year, not just for police officers but also for the 26 persons who have also been victims. "What I notice, the most outstanding thing that has been seen is that it (crime incidence) was done by the gun, and with us trying to create a culture of human rights and civil liberties, we are stuck in a culture of guns."

Mustafa Mohammed, president of the Islamic Council of Jamaica, says while no conclusive evidence can be given that these incidents have been a concerted attack on the police, he says it is a concern as it shows the levels of disorder the society has come to. "We are looking at this as a holistic thing, because this shows that no sector of society can escape crime which has reached crisis proportions."

Mohammed says that the police should be spared no resources in order to operate without fear or favour, especially in the upcoming political season where the police could be manipulated to give one side an advantage. He also said that the state of the justice system is a cause for concern as several witnesses who have evidence to give regarding crimes are afraid to come forward.

Meanwhile, Operation Kingfish, government's top crime-fighting unit, is sounding the warning to cop killers that they will never walk free on the streets of Jamaica.

Information officer for Operation Kingfish, Inspector Steve Brown, says that while Kingfish is not in charge of the investigations of the recent cop killings, any information that they come across will be passed on. "No cop killer will ever walk free; no cop killer can believe it is business as usual, and we have the resolve to find them and bring them to justice," said Inspector Brown.