West Kingston gangs regrouping — police

Says threat level still high

Friday, July 09, 2010

THE Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) yesterday warned its members to be on high alert, saying that it had intelligence that criminals belonging to gangs, which operated in Western Kingston, were regrouping.

According to the JCF, criminals were making new threats against the lives of its members following a series of operations to disrupt criminal networks in West Kingston and across the country.

"This regrouping is being done primarily in Denham Town and comes against the background of continued and effective police operations being carried out in the Western Kingston especially in the Coronation Market area," the JCF said in a news release.

Yesterday, senior officers in several police divisions said they were on high alert and that they would ensure that their members do the same.

"We are taking the calls very seriously," Deputy Superintendent Horace Creary from Kingston West Police Division told the Observer.

Deputy Superintendent Carl Malcolm, from the St Andrew South Division said, he too was taking the warning seriously.

"But the police will continue to carry out our duties and will not be distracted, but we will remain on the look out," Malcolm said.

Yesterday, during a tour of sections of downtown Kingston from where reports of the new threats reportedly came, several policemen were seen moving in groups as they carried out their duties.

Earlier the Police High Command advised that "deployments must not fall below defensive levels, and personnel should be prepared to act swiftly and decisively in defence of themselves and colleagues."

It also warned "criminal elements and those who sympathise with them that the Police remain undeterred in the fight to defeat organised crime."

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COMMENTS (17)

Skael Fatt
7/9/2010

The regrouping story, & THREAT LEVELS ALERT all seem to me to be coming directly out of the george bush playbook. Maybe men who ran away to save their lives are returning home. That's all. Past & present commish won't put heads 2gether. Reason - Jealousy & bad mind. Why do some people simple mindedly believe U.S. is any "friendly neighbour"?. A. Croft there's no need to add to the 73 dead. Do u really believe / accept that 73 guns got up, ran away & hide after their firers were killed?

Ja WeCan
7/9/2010

If this is ia whats happening and criminals; are dead set on on regrouping to resume their violent criminal activities. It simply means that we will need further extention of the SOE. The pressure must be kept on these criminal gangs. they most be eradicated from Jamaica. The police are exshausted this means that there needs to be more investment in evpanding the force.

Jay Brown
7/9/2010

@ James Allen
Why does the poorest always seem to be engaged in criminal activities that the rich?
Maybe just maybe that's why the police target them.
Poor is never a license to be engaged in criminal behaviour.

Lu Pa
7/9/2010

The women need to start warning their men to clean up their lives, because when there is a TG type strike on them are the women who will be out in the streets crying.

James Allen
7/9/2010

License fi kill off the poor

Nicolas Henry
7/9/2010

Regrouping might just work against them. I'm a military man & is battle hardened, I won't post why it will work against them, because the criminals will get hints. If I was a soldier in JDF I wouldn't be worried one bit. Let them regroup.

Christian Shaw
7/9/2010

no doubt they are doing so under the leadership of the criminal government.

Erwin Stoessel
7/9/2010

If in fact these criminal gangs are regrouping the security forces have to understand that they are in a war that neither they nor Jamaica can afford to loose.The rule of law must prevail at all costs therefore if it becomes necessary to shoot to kill then so be it.In the meantime a serious effort must be made to seek out and destroy those in high places that have for too long given these gangs some form of protection.The crooked members of the security forces should also be targeted.

E Bonner
7/9/2010

@ Jay Brown I fully agree with you. If the intelligence is credible, act on it! If the ‘intelligence’ is based on hearsay, publishing it will only serve to create unnecessary anxiety and tension which we all can do without at this point in time.

A. Croft
7/9/2010

Keeping on their tracks JCF and JDF. You have the training and equipment; they do not.
Too bad it is necessary to have to do this but they are stubborn men; uncivilized and living in a mad state of mind. Clean them out!

tickyticky fish
7/9/2010

Two words, PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE

Maude Cooper
7/9/2010

No surprise here, especially now that they hear that the police are exhausted, and rightly so because they have been doing a great job. But both past and present commissioners and others willing; need to put their heads & hearts together in a united front and come up with viable solutions, and stop sending negative message to the criminals that they are at war with each another, that is only strengthening the criminals cause. It is not about everyman for himself it is all about fixing a "very old and bad” problem one way or another.

Xavi Singh
7/9/2010

What did they expect?Most of the real hardcore criminals left West Kingston before the forces officially entered, taking their guns with them. From intelligence, very few were among the causalities. Which means that they are still at large, just waiting for thing to cool down to return and do it again.

John Christian
7/9/2010

Commissoner....please keep the pressure on the Criminals do not allow them to regroup ...they are on the run ..keep them destabilized...do not make this a nine day wonder....now is the time to move on the other notorious criminal Don Nations...Portias constituency next...then Maverly and on and on ...lets sieze the moment and kill this Criminal Parasitic way of life.

Chuck Emanuel
7/9/2010

The Security Forces should also be aware of the fact that none of the criminal aiders and abettors in the political establishment, Leadership, or "Parties" of this country has been held accountable for anything by anyone to date.
Instead, they are allowed to remain un-scathed.
The good news is that our friendly neighbour the U.S. continues to assist us in monitoring these scum-bags.

Maroon Descendant
7/9/2010

What Golding has allowed to transpire will lead to more crime, hate and mistrust for the government, law and order. People believe it is them against us and the government only cares for the big brown man. But the PM is a big brown man.

Jay Brown
7/9/2010

Mr Ellington and senior cops.
If you have this type of information, why not move stealthy to dismantle and or take out these guys, why the need for a public announcement.
The logic of doing this I really never did understand.
Its like saying, we know where you are and what you are doing and we are coming for you !!
Mindless !!

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West Kingston gangs regrouping — police