Senior cops prepared for Christmas weekend

There will be no ease up by the police on persons who attempt to rob and cause harm to shoppers as preparations for Christmas and Boxing days intensify.

Three divisional commanders told THE WEEKEND STAR that their officers are ready to intercept and arrest individuals who are hell-bent on creating disorder.

"We know that there is a tremendous increase in the traffic flow in the division, but we have, since the start of this week, adequate deployment of officers in the space," said Superintendent Berrisford Williams, who commands the Kingston Central Police Division. "We have adequate covers in the streets this weekend and ... this is inclusive of covert officers with a view to blend in with the crowd to stem the incidents of robbery and so forth that we have experienced throughout the year."

His assurances may come as music to the ears of vendors along Beckford Street, especially for juice vendor Arthur Russell, who said that he has made extra preparations for Christmas and New Year's shopping.

"Yuh have a style where di thief dem circle the stall when a nuff vendors deh bout. Di vendors dem have yuh attention, and if yuh no careful, dem can move yuh goods without yuh knowing it," Russell, 48, said.

Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, advised shoppers to be careful how they move around.

"Don't advertise your high-end phones and try to use cards as best as you can. If you have need, especially for the next couple of days, to move around with large sum of money, seek to get escorts. Even through the police, we will offer that service free of cost if needed," he said.

According to Superintendent Eron Samuels, who is in charge of operations in St James, one of the major concerns for the police is the illegal usage of the road by motorists.

"I realise that it is a new trend that persons are ignoring the lights. We will be out in our numbers and will be enforcing the law as best as we can. We want them to understand that the rules of the road need to be obeyed, and that they cannot block the intersections. When the light goes on amber, that is an indication that you need to stop," he said.

Samuels added that as it relates to robberies, the police have an anti-robbery unit on the streets, along with a Quick Response Unit and foot patrols in the areas that are known to have these issues.