Stepping up police presence in Falmouth

Ruddy Mathison, Gleaner Writer

The police high command in area one announced it will be increasing police presence in Falmouth on ship days, to combat tourist harassment.

Assistant commissioner of police in charge of area one, Denver Frater, made the announcement last night at a town hall meeting in Falmouth which was attended by some 15,000 craft vendors and other stake holders in the tourism business.

The assistant commissioner said that starting today, with the expected arrival of the world's largest cruise ship Oasis of the Seas to Falmouth for the second time with an estimated 6000 passengers on board, there will be an increase in the number of undercover police and uniform police officers deployed in the town.

Frater said these officers will be looking out for drug peddlers and prostitutes, who are reported to be the main source of visitor harassment in Falmouth.

He appealed to the craft vendors to assist the police by pointing out these offenders promptly to law enforcement officers.

Representatives of Royal Caribbean on Friday met with Trelawny Parish Council officials and other stakeholders to complain about the emerging trend of harassment being experienced by their visitors, from drug pushers and prostitutes in Falmouth.

Many residents are of the view that these individuals are coming from other parishes to do business in Falmouth.