Policemen stand guard along Collie Smith Drive in the troubled Trench Town community yesterday, after two men were shot and killed by gunmen there on Monday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

ACCUSED of political victimisation by residents in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) stronghold of West Kingston, the police have fired back, claiming they are non-partisan in their approach to crime fighting.

West Kingston residents openly questioned the actions of the police Tuesday, following an alleged shoot-out between gunmen and police in some communities there.

"Is politics war dem a fight," one woman vented, a pronouncement which almost every resident on the street made.

Bruce Golding, the Member of Parliament for the area, which is one of Jamaica's toughest garrison constituencies, said the operation during which two civilians were killed "has a familiar ring to it".

"Whenever we are close to an election, as we have found in previous elections, some operation of this nature is carried out in West Kingston," Mr. Golding said.

Not targeting JLP constituencies

However, yesterday Karl Angell, the director of communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, told The Gleaner that the police will accept no accusation that they are targeting JLP constituencies.

"The police, as part of our remit, go where criminal elements are to be found; regardless of what group they fall into or whatever affiliations they might have," Mr. Angell said.

Many residents who took to the streets, despite the request of their political leaders to stay home, said the police had targeted their community because of their political allegiance.

The residents said that, from time to time, one particular policeman has led an abuse of their human rights.

Last week, Andrew Holness, JLP Member of Parliament for West Central St. Andrew, raised concerns about what he called "suspicious" killings by police in his constituency.

He had suggested that death squads may be operating from the Hunt's Bay Police Station, a charge that has been dismissed by Derrick Knight, head of the St. Andrew South division.

"That is nothing new about West Kingston, we have always been targeted," Mr. Golding responded when asked if he believed the JLP stronghold had been singled out. However, the police have rejected this suggestion.

"We want to be very clear that whenever it is necessary to move or hunt down criminals, the police do so without any fear or any favour," Mr. Angell said.

Despite Tuesday's incident, Mr. Golding has said he still has confidence in the leadership of the police force and the vast majority of police.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com