ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Ealan Powell has responded to pleas from business operators in downtown Kingston who recently called on the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to increase police presence in the busy commercial district.

“The truth is that is that downtown is very difficult to police,” ACP Powell said. “The main roads are very easy to police, [but] off the main roads are very difficult. They (criminals) commit the crimes because they know that.”

He said he would encourage business people in the district to invest in electronic security.

“I think that more cameras downtown in the business places, outside the business places, will help us tremendously. Because if people know that they are being watched they will be wary of committing the crimes. Let the technology work for us. I think that is the way to go.”

Powell, while noting that there will never be enough manpower to deploy to the streets of downtown Kingston, said electronic surveillance would complement the work of the police in catching criminals.

“Downtown has a shooting problem, all kinds of problems, because you have many different gangs, many inner cities and groups that are engaging in criminal activities. It is not the easiest place to police, but I believe that we have to work together, all of us — the KSAC, the business people the police — everybody will have to come together.”

At the same time, Powell said that the JCF will be deploying additional police personnel to the bustling streets as the back-to-school season comes to a close in the coming days.

“There is a plan in place. We will see greater numbers up until the start of the new school year. We know that more people will be out shopping for books and school supplies so we will ensure that that plan is in place for the numbers to be increased exponentially just for that to ensure that people can shop safely,” Powell added.

Recently, a number of business operators expressed distress at the upsurge in chain grabbing and cellular phone theft in the district.

“It is a disgrace with the thief dem on King Street, Church Street, Orange Street, Luke Lane, Heywood Street, right back to West Street. As you pass dem grab yuh chain or your phone,” a business owner who has been in the area for over 40 years told the Jamaica Observer.

The business owner, while noting that there needs to be more police presence, urged shoppers to take precautionary measures when shopping downtown.

“People, do not come downtown with your expensive jewellery and cellular phones,” the business owner said.

She added that her business has taken a downturn as a result of the increase in criminal activities.

“It stops everybody from selling because the people are scared to come and purchase goods,” she said.

Another business owner who echoed the same sentiments said that criminals are taking over.

“It gets worse over the years. At least three times per day you see people running up and down the streets, running down thieves trying to retrieve their belongings. Nothing is selling because nobody wants to come and buy goods in a certain part a town.”

The business owner stressed that there should be at least one police person patrolling Luke Lane.

“The thieves are too barefaced; dem just grab up the people dem neck and take their chains. We need police ’round here to police the area. If the police were around here they would catch a lot of them. Two to three hours after the robbery you see the police.”

Another business owner said that teenagers are responsible for the majority of the criminal activities in downtown Kingston.

“Everyday, all 10 times per day is just running up and down in the streets. And the worst part is that a some pickney a do it — 12, 13-year-old and so. Our businesses are affected. The bwoy dem a gwaan bad, all when a nuh gold dem a grab it. We need some plain clothes police too,” the business owner said.