DEPUTY commissioner of police in charge of strategic operations Clifford Blake is insisting that there is still a strong police presence on the nation’s roads, despite a reduction in the number since the new Road Traffic Act came into effect two months ago.

The traffic police had come out in full force on February 1 to enforce the new Road Traffic Act, which has harsher penalties for traffic violations. In the Corporate Area in particular, during the initial period of enforcement activities, groups of police personnel were observed on major thoroughfares. This has since tapered off to about two officers.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) last Tuesday, Blake said that while he cannot speak to February specifically, he noted that in the beginning of January to mid-January, the traffic police had been getting the support of students from the National Police College of Jamaica to assist with traffic management.

“That was a part of their on-the-road training. So they have since gone back into the academy, a result of which, there has been a lessening of our numbers on the street. But certainly, as soon as they graduate then we will return them to the street and you will see an increased number [of police personnel]. But yes, I can say, we have less presence, but we still do have a strong presence out there,” he said.

In the meantime, Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson is calling on the public to report traffic offences to the police.

“What would be useful to us, of course, is that we still get from members of the public, when they see things happening, they tell us and we despatch, particularly our motorcycle police to those points… Sometimes, we get videos from people and looking at particular areas that are of concern, we use those videos to guide our deployment,” he said.

He noted that Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) is still active and is working across the Corporate Area and rural areas to ensure traffic is managed effectively.

“Of course, we have in place now our e-ticketing system that has made our [operations] far more effective and efficient in delivering tickets. Ticket numbers are still quite high as we ticket persons who are breaking the rules,” he said.

In a statement in Parliament last week, Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck had revealed that between February 1, 2023 when the new Road Traffic Act took effect, and March 27, a total of 66,428 tickets were issued for violations.