The Editor, Sir:

I acknowledge the police commissioner's move to welcome the public's views of his proposal to close some police stations deemed 'unnecessary'. I applaud this idea, especially since I am not in agreement with that decision.

My reason is that I don't think if we want more police on the streets, closing the police stations is the answer. We have quite often heard numerous outcries from residents around the country for police stations, so it is rather strange to hear that we have too many.

Furthermore the areas which Commissioner Lewin used as examples are all very volatile, and the removal of the police stations could cause great unrest. The slight feeling of security would be dashed. I would have loved to hear a definitive plan to address these issues which would certainly arise.

Review police system

I think a better idea would be conducting a thorough review of the police system, something similar to what the NSWMA is doing, to see exactly how to get efficient operation at these stations. This would almost certainly lead to the recruitment of more persons to strengthen the force; better training facilities and strategies to properly equip these 'war-fighters' with the necessary tools to compete with the highly advanced gunmen; a more effective way of gathering, and acting on, intelligence; and the transformation of the police force to have well-trained police who work with respect and professionalism, while enforcing the laws of the country, without robbing individuals of their right to fair treatment.

When this is done, I can't see how closing the police stations will be necessary. Unless the closure is an interim move and the stations will eventually reopen.

Once again I am happy that the public's views will be taken into consideration. I also offer my prayers for the commissioner who is at the helm of the most difficult task in Jamaica at the moment.

I am, etc.,

JEFFREY BROWN

Duanvale, Trelawny