ALTHOUGH the reported incidents of crime at the recently concluded Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay was substantially less than in previous years, the show’s productions chairman, Robert Russell, has said they would be stepping up security next year.

Russell told the Observer Tuesday that despite the fact that, unlike in previous years, there were no reported car thefts and only a few reports of pickpocketing, the show had not been without its share of challenges.

“The police who were there performed well but their numbers were inadequate. Next year we’ll resort to our original programme to bring in policemen from outside the parish and house them in Montego Bay,” he told the Observer.

He cited the challenge to conduct proper searches and to crack down on illegal entrants to the show, which were caused by the swamp and heavy bushes that surrounded portions of the show’s main Catherine Hall venue.

“In other years we had a larger police contingent but those who were there really tried to cope with a difficult situation. The venue was surrounded by swamp and heavy bushes and there can’t be a police officer at every inch of the fence…,” Russell said.

He added that there were 150 cops stationed at the show last year and while he could not say how many there were this year, he did affirm that their numbers had decreased.

He also pointed out that there were fewer patrons at the week-long show this year, compared to last year’s estimated 40,000.

And he alluded to the confrontation between deejays, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, which later resulted in a bottle-throwing incident as patrons sought to evict Merciless from the stage.

Russell said that while that incident was quickly resolved by the intervention of the police, it was one that nonetheless posed a threat to the safety of patrons and rendered some the victims of pickpockets.

So, in addition to bringing in an additional number of police officers at next year’s show, Russell said they would also secure the services of a security company and their K-9 officers.

“All-in-all though,” Russell said, “the security was good in terms of protecting the patrons and their properties.”

Meanwhile, Superintendent in charge of the St James police, Owen Ellington, confirmed that crimes at the show this year were minimal.

“Reports I’m getting are that we had a much more peaceful week compared to other years. Offences against patrons were down significantly. For example, there were no reports of cars being stolen and there was only one reported incident of robbery,” the superintendent told the Observer.

“Generally speaking, the entire town of Montego Bay enjoyed a very peaceful week and a very peaceful independence holiday as well.”

He also commended the officers stationed at the show who, he said, worked hard.

“Policemen worked extra long hours. Some people worked during the day and during the night just to ensure that everything went well. The only problem associated with Sumfest was the bottle throwing which was generated by performers on stage,” Ellington said.

Constabulary Communication Network officer for St James, Constable Camille Tracey, told the Observer that 11 persons were found in possession of, dealing in and or smoking ganja at the stage show. And at least three of them have already been fined. They include 30 year-old Delroy Williams of Lilliput in St James; Christa Brown, 31, and 35 year-old Melvin Smith of Glendevon in the parish.