THE JAMAICA Constabulary Force (JCF) is assuring the public that it would be vigilant in securing life and property during this Christmas season.
Deputy Superintendent of police, Clement Logan, told a recent JIS 'Think Tank,' that the police would be deploying more officers to patrol the streets of Kingston.
"We have scaled down our offices and we are using those persons to do foot patrols in
the various townships," he informed.
Their presence, he explained, would be mostly seen in Half-Way Tree, Papine, Cross Roads, Liguanea and downtown Kingston. In a few days, he noted, "we should be getting more persons to assist."
It is expected that as Christmas Eve draws closer, another batch of plain-clothes and uniformed officers would be deployed, including members of the Island Special Constabulary Force. (ISCF).
AT YOUR SERVICE
The JCF will also be working in collaboration with private security companies, including King Alarm, to ensure that businesses and plazas are safe for shoppers, "The private security companies work within the police divisions ... and they form part of the auxiliary staff ... because the police and the security companies have a relationship where they can call us if they need assistance," Mr. Logan said.
The security firms, he informed, are provided with straight-line numbers to some police stations as well as radio systems to contact the police in case of extreme emergencies.
Meanwhile, the deputy
superintendent has urged members of the public to play their part in ensuring their safety. He emphasised that safety should begin first with an individual, "then extend to those in the workplace and then the wider community."
SAFETY AT HOME
Mr. Logan stressed the importance of safety at home, not just securing the physical structure but also the entire environment. "You need to look at fences, how you build them.... When you make a wall around the house, you don't want to make it too high, because when you are in, nobody can see you. If your home is under attack from thieves, no one will be aware of what is happening," he said.
He warned persons to avoid keeping heavy shrubs near their homes, as these "are perfect hideouts for criminals."
"We love trees but we have to control them so that they don't become overgrown," he informed. If this is not possible, Mr. Logan is encouraging all to "employ the use of outside lights."
Another recommendation
put forward by the deputy superintendent is building good relationships with neighbours. He explained that a mutually beneficial relationship meant contact numbers are exchanged for cases of emergency and that each person looks out for the other, including watching over each other's property. "I don't mean just talking to them ... (but) they look out for you and you look out for them," he said.
