PUBLIC Defender Arlene Harrison Henry is confident that her office is ready and prepared to take on any case that should arise where a citizen’s human and constitutional rights is breached by law enforcement officers in the zones of special operations.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer Tuesday after a human rights training for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at Up Park Camp, Harrison Henry said she was fearful of a recurrence of the Tivoli Gardens operations in 2010, but she has high hopes regarding the conduct of the security forces coming out of the human rights workshops.

More than 70 people were killed when the security forces went into Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, in May 2010 in search of then fugitive and community leader Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who was being sought to be served an arrest warrant following a request from the United States.

Said the public defender: “I hope we do not revert to that thing (Tivoli operations). But the kind of spirit and expressions from the officers was very encouraging that this is not where we are going because they are going to tackle the criminal elements.

“What used to happen is that the innocent civilian would be trapped between the marauders and harsh legislation to deal with criminality. Citizens’ movements would be restricted because of criminal elements and you can have a legislation that can also restrict your movement in its attempt to curb criminality,” added Harrison Henry.

The public defender said her office has learned a lot of lessons from Tivoli, and that possible cases that might arise will not affect the efficiency of her office to represent the rights of the victims.

“… We are people of great hope and expectations that the security forces will get it right this time,” she said.

Meanwhile, Colonel Jaime Ogilvie, who is in charge of operations at the JDF, said soldiers and the police, through the workshops, would be working to ensure that citizens are treated with respect while reversing the criminality that is taking place within communities.

“If we go to any community and there are criminals or no criminals, the measure of success for us is that residents must be confident that we acted with transparency, professionalism, accountability,” said the JDF colonel. He added that residents should also feel comfortable, “not just with us there but they feel comfortable in their community and can go about freely doing their lawful legitimate businesses because they know that there is a safe environment for them to live, work, raise families and do business”.

Meanwhile, legal officer at the JCF, Wesley Watson, said there was a need for human rights groups to help in educating the public on their human rights and tenets of the new zones of special operations legislation.

Watson said the constabulary and the army should not be the only ones organising and hosting workshops for the public.

“We need to hear them (human rights groups) talk about the other side. If you notice they might have a one line, and the rest of their comments is that security forces need to do this and that. But persons need to know what are their duties as good citizens, and if police officers are treating you badly this is what you can do,” said Watson. The JCF, he said, has been doing its part in educating its officers and the public about the new legislation.

Watson, meanwhile, reiterated a concern of the Police High Command for social issues in crime-affected communities to be addressed.

“Over the years we have been going into communities, carrying out operations and arresting and detaining people. Then, after we leave it goes back to square one so most of the social issues are not solved. A lot of these social issues are like breeding grounds [for crime],” said Watson.