KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Area 4 police team have assured residents that they will be available to participate in preventative rescue and recovery operations during and after the passage of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to become a major hurricane.

Head of Area 4, Assistant Commissioner Michael Phipps, said he knows the divisions in the area house several vital infrastructures, including government agencies and vulnerable areas, which will require special policing attention to ensure the safety and protection of all.

ACP Phipps said the divisional commanders have contacted parish disaster coordinators and assigned police liaison officers. They have also held meetings with stakeholders from the disaster committee at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation.

“Some of the risks and vulnerabilities that may arise from the impact of the storm have been identified as blockages of thoroughfares, and we, of course, will keep the public advised on any adverse situation, and will be supporting them by the deployment of police to intervene and assist where necessary,” Phipps told Observer Online.

“We know too that there are threats to some vital infrastructure, whether through acts of vandalism and looting or otherwise. These will be strictly monitored, and of course, we will provide the necessary protection in collaboration with our stakeholders and the persons in charge of security for these installations.”

The assistant commissioner said there are divisions with major police lockups, and they will ensure that the structures are inspected and adequate staff are deployed to these lockups to prevent any possibility of or attempt at a jailbreak.

Phipps added “We will provide policing services throughout and our main focus will be around the maintenance of law and order, the protection of life and property, the protection and detection of crime, and of course, we will seek to protect the staff of our relief agencies and will initiate and participated in the rescue and recovery that may be deemed necessary.”

He shared that the policing would be on a three-prong basis. “The first one we will have as the pre-landfall, which has to do with our preparation, the second will be our emergency response, which will be post-landfall, and the third will be the restoration of normalcy.”

“We want to assure the general public that our high visibility patrols will be out to prevent possible lootings and break-ins, among other acts that are against the law. Where necessary, we will seek to provide static patrols to secure vital infrastructure and other installations. We will, of course, coordinate with our partners such as the solid waste agency, the JPS, fire brigade and other stakeholders in trying to restore normalcy as is necessary across the area,” ACP Phipps disclosed.