Dear Editor,

I for one remain puzzled at the numerous times over the years that the police (sometimes the respective ministers of national security) make these headline-grabbing pronouncements that they will be stepping up their activities. To what end?

I remember a few years back when there was this particular announcement about increased spot checks in, I believe, Clarendon and Manchester at the time. Just last week, the minister of national security was associated with another such announcement about tackling the extortionists at the bus park in Spanish Town. Of course, tell the criminals you are coming so they can move on before you can get there. Do the police only use sting operations to catch alleged corrupt cops? Do they understand the meaning of undercover operations?

And please don’t tell me it’s about giving a heads up to the law-abiding citizens. If people come upon a roadblock or a police operation, and they are law-abiding, there’s nothing to fear — maybe just a little inconvenience.

And it’s not just the police. This national fascination our motorists have of flashing vehicles going in the opposite direction to warn of a spot check or radar trap is self-defeating. If somebody is exceeding the speed limit, they are breaking the law. Let the police catch them. You may have saved a life or two.

I need to confess that I used to do it until 10 years ago, when I flashed an oncoming motorist, only to see the car pull off to the soft shoulder, make a U-turn, and speed off in the other direction. I have often wondered if I had tipped off a car carrying wanted criminals.

Stephen Harrison

St Mary

stepharrison28@gmail.com