Police deployed to maintain order at planned JFJ protest

 

The Jamaica Constabulary Force says it expects that Tuesday afternoon's protest that will be staged by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) will follow all the legal guidelines to ensure a peaceful and safe event in the usually busy Half Way Tree area.

 

The protest is aimed at highlighting the need for accountability within the police force in light of the more than 100 police fatal shootings since the start of the year.

 

While participants and members of the public have been asked to wear black, people in support of the police have been urged to wear blue - a move which the JFJ has said is risking further unnecessary division.

 

Assistant Commissioner Michael Phillips, head of the Police Area Four, says the police will be deployed to offer protection and maintain public order.

 

"The protest will take place in a high traffic, commercial and transportation hub. As such, appropriate security and crowd control measures will be implemented to ensure the safety of the public, the participants and business operators and to minimise disruption to regular activities. Generally, the intention of the High Command is to really ensure the maintenance of law and order, prevent breaches of the Public Order Act, secure public safety and reassure law-abiding citizens, ensure that public thoroughfare remains open and unobstructed and that, of course, we will seek to uphold the human rights of all individuals," he asserted.