THE police arrested 20 people, and seized 11 guns and 34 rounds of ammunition across the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) over the weekend, as part of operations designed to stymie violent crimes on the island.

Included in the guns and ammunition find was a Lorcin 9mm pistol, serial number L127371, and one live round for a 9mm pistol (no magazine). The lawmen also found a military-type grenade with the serial number 118.

Karl Angell, communications director with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said it was a sign that their efforts were already reaping dividends.

“All the arrests are not pertaining to the gun finds. It is just because we have increased our operational activities in this area (KMA, including north and south St Catherine), and we are doing more strategic deployment,” he told the Sunday Observer. “We have more policemen and women doing more motorised and foot patrol in the KMA. What has happened is that we have taken policemen and women out of non-geographic areas, such as people doing administration and such. So they are boosting the numbers we have on the streets.”

Angell noted that the expectation was that the increased numbers would reap other benefits over the next several weeks.

“What this is saying is that what we are trying to do is to ensure that the streets of Kingston and St Catherine become normal again and that people can go about their full business. We also want to reduce the fear of crime in these areas, and that is why we are policing in such a manner,” he said.

The police efforts come at a time when government and the JCF administration face increased public pressure to curb crime.

Already this year, close to 600 civilians have lost their lives. The police, too, have found themselves the victims of violent crime. Only three weeks ago, two of their members were shot and killed by gunmen inside Trench Town.

On Friday the police also arrested Ricardo ‘Bully’ Thomas – one of the 10 most wanted men in Jamaica. He was arrested by members of the Murder Investigation Taskforce (MIT) after surrendering to the police. Thomas was wanted for the 2004 murder of Devonde Lawla at White Wing Walk, Kingston 11.