Tivoli tightened - Cops place checkpoints at community's entrances

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

Checkpoints have been re-erected at several entrances and exits in Tivoli Gardens as the police react to claims of an upsurge in robbery, rape, and other criminal offences being perpetrated in the community.

At the same time, Senior Superintendent of Police Terrence Bent said his team in Tivoli Gardens was being challenged by a worryingly high number of domestic disputes that had been brought to their attention.

He said the police had been forced to devise special measures to address the problem.

Bent disclosed that 100 police personnel at varying ranks, from constable to assistant commissioner, were being trained by an international expert to deal with the complex issues of resocialising Tivoli Gardens.

customer-service training

The training sessions which started two weeks ago are scheduled to end next week.

"All policemen and women in the post are undergoing customer-service training designed to tackle the dynamics of Tivoli Gardens," Bent disclosed.

Yesterday, specially designed structures at each checkpoint - to facilitate the police in their monitoring operations - were being put in place when The Gleaner went into the community.

But Bent said they would become operational when police personnel were in place to monitor the checkpoints effectively.

He said this could be done by early next week.

However, police personnel are already stationed at most of the entrances to and exits from the community, bringing back the not-too-distant memories of the post-insurgent period when the police and soldiers guarded the gateways to Tivoli Gardens.

monitoring system

"We are putting in place a monitor-search system to prevent the entry of criminals and drugs and illegal weapons into the community," Bent told The Gleaner.

Bent, the senior officer in charge of Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Hannah Town, and Matthews Lane in west Kingston, said the initiative was being pursued in line with the Firearms and Road Traffic Act.

"Once the police have reason to believe that people are carrying illegal weapons, or pose a threat to the security of the community, the police are empowered to act," he said.

The checkpoints in Tivoli Gardens became defunct shortly after the state of emergency ended on July 31, but the sounds of fear echoed throughout the community as residents claimed that outsiders were threatening their safety.

Bent said the police had only seen most of the reports in the media, but rushed to take the necessary precautions.

"People are complaining that residents are being raped, and since they are not telling us, we are taking precautions," Bent said.

"We have had meetings with the people, who have signalled that they want a sense of security," said Bent.