A STRONG national security response team has been put on alert in the event of violence, of any sort, erupting in today's St. Ann North East by-election.
More than 250 policemen from the Corporate Area have been deployed to the parish to beef up security there.
The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said it could not comment about security arrangements, but The Gleaner was reliably informed that Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers will form part of the response team, while others will be involved in routine patrolling.
The Corporate Area policemen have been drawn from Mobile Reserve, Kingston Eastern, St. Andrew South and the CIB Headquarters in downtown Kingston. They include over 50 detectives and will be working in collaboration with their Area Two colleagues, under the command of Assistant Commissioner Arthur Martin. Area Two includes Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann.
A senior police officer said yesterday that the customary one-day constables will not be used as security in this by-election. All the polling stations will be manned by Area Two policemen. Policemen working in today's election will be attired in normal Jamaica Constabulary Force uniform.
Detectives will be clad in vests marked "police," with their regulation number visible in bold print. Another group of detectives from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) will be deployed all over St. Ann North East.
