The hierarchy of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is seeking to temper public concern about a marked spike in police presence across the island.

In a statement yesterday, the JCF declared the public should not be alarmed at the increased presence of the security forces, which has been designed to reduce crime.

Karl Angell, director of commu-nications at the JCF, told The Gleaner that the JCF was aware of the concerns of citizens about the unusual number of police personnel on the streets.

"Yes, we have heard that (citizens are worried) and that is why we are trying to reassure the public and ease the fear," Angell said.

The police did not provide any official numbers outlining the increased deployment, but stressed that the force had already been bolstered by the inclusion of police personnel from administrative offices and other non-operational areas of the force.

Angell said the move was a response to rampant criminality in the island and a moving forward of the time at which additional forces are deployed for the Christmas season.

The late-October move, which started over the weekend, comes at a time when the island is still wrestling with its crime demons and Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is coming under pressure from the Government for his handling of the crime problem.

The latest crime figures have seen the numbers of Jamaicans murdered climbing well above 1,200 up to the end of September. Last year, 1,611 people were murdered.

A count by The Gleaner indicates that more than 25 people were murdered last week. This figure includes men, women and children from rural, urban, uptown and downtown areas. The victims were cut down in criminal acts, including a shooting at a school in St James, where one person was killed and two injured, the murder of a policeman in Seaview Gardens in St Andrew, and the murder of a mother and a son in Mona Commons.

The JCF said the increased deployments of police personnel would be in effect until further notice and would be carried out jointly with the Jamaica Defence Force.

In its statement yesterday, the JCF said the deployments were intended to "take effective law-enforcement actions to reduce crime by deterring, detecting and arresting offenders, in addition to protecting and reassuring the public".

The JCF also asked members of the public to play their part by providing information to the force's secured lines at Police Control - 119, Crime Stop - 311, and Operation Kingfish - 811.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com