Following reports in The Gleaner that a number of children reported missing were becoming prostitutes along the Portmore Back Road in St Catherine, the police have now decided on a new course of action.

The St Catherine South police are now issuing the pictures of those who have been reported missing, as a means of helping persons to identified the girls.

"The pictures are necessary for information and identification purposes. Sometimes, we receive reports that persons are seen on the stretch of road who appear to be underage and we've had to increase our vigilance,'' Inspector Enroy Madourie told The Gleaner.

Madourie said the reports in The Gleaner this week were not being taken lightly and, although no arrests have been made, an effective strategy is continuously being developed.

Meanwhile, Portmore Mayor Keith Hinds said the police trying new ways of curtailing the problem was good because prostitution could not be allowed to continue along Port Henderson Road.

"My wife will be opening a business along the road, and the concept that is being presented will not allow prostitutes to stay on the road. We are going to clean them off," Hinds said.

A follow-up to The Gleaner's original story had shown the difficulties being faced by the police.

"We have launched several operations against the prostitutes on Back Road and these are continuing with a focus on the minors who are engaged in the trade," Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, head of the St Catherine South police, had said.

At the time, Nesbeth had said the police were targeting nightclubs and hotels on the Back Road which harboured these activities.

Nesbeth told a tale of adults sleeping with girls in school uniform, though those caught were above the age of consent. Parents and schools, Nesbeth explained, were informed so the practice, though not illegal could be brought to an end.

He said the police are to meet with the business operators shortly to express their concerns about prostitution in general and the growing involvement of minors in particular. Some operators had been working with the police.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com