Hundreds of Security Personnel Deployed at Sabina Park

Cricket fans who attended the first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 between the West Indies and Pakistan yesterday (March 13), enjoyed the match relatively incident free, due to the deployment of some 550 security personnel.
In an interview with JIS News, Superintendent of Police, Talbert White, who was in charge of the Joint Operations Co-ordination Centre (JOCC) for the match, informed that there were a few administrative and operational glitches prior to the start of the game.
“There were glitches earlier on but these were sorted out fairly early and things moved smoothly,” he said.
He further explained that the number of law enforcers that were deployed consisted of two Assistant Commissioners of Police, 29 other officers, and 384 persons representing other ranks in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
Additionally, he noted that 88 law enforcement officers were assigned to man traffic flow and 12 mobile patrols monitoring the perimeter of the venue.
He also pointed out that patrols were conducted by both private security guards and the JCF personnel at the various parking lots as well as the general areas around the venue.
Continuing, he noted that other domestic patrols were on call to respond to incidents that were not related to the game.
According to Superintendent White, there were relatively few reports of patrons trying to break the rules, especially those relating to items that are prohibited.
“We are asking the public to continue to follow the instructions that are given by the police and to obey the road code at all times,” he said.
“Whenever we have match days, the security measures will be in place. When there are no match days, there will still be police and private security presence at the venue,” he added.
The JOCC commenced operations on March 1, as required by the master security plan for the staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007. The JOCC will operate for the duration of the tournament.