Forbes

"YOU ARE likely to see harsher police action against criminal elements," says Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, as the security forces attempt to bring an end to the violent demonstrations which have shut down the country since Monday.

Commissioner Francis Forbes, speaking from his Hope Road office, yesterday encouraged persons to return to their jobs and go about their normal activity.

"Those who can go to work should try and make it to work. Whatever we can do (in the night) we will be doing it. We will be trying to keep the main roads open," the Commissioner said.

Scores of police personnel have been working round the clock since Monday, the day the demonstrations started.

"As far as we are concerned, we are bringing the criminality to an end. People can continue to protest but the criminal activities must now cease. We have increased our activities against the criminal elements who have been rampaging and trying to wreck decent people's life," said Commissioner Forbes.

He said the street cleaning exercise will continue today.

Assessing the situation, Mr. Forbes explained that since Monday the character of the event has changed. He said about 90 per cent of persons who were engaged in the demonstrations on Monday had a genuine interest in protesting. Things peaked on Tuesday and the vast majority added a criminal element to it.

"From that point of view, the security forces strategy has change, where we now have to develop a harder stance because we are dealing with a major criminal element out there," said Commissioner Forbes.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) too is assisting and has called out its Reserves.