Policy to be developed on security forces’ involvement in demolitions, says Holness

Amid backlash over the involvement of the police in the recent demolition exercise at Coopers Pen in Trelawny, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has indicated that the Government is to develop policy guidance to govern how members of the security forces operate when called on to support court-ordered evictions and demolitions.

Holness made the announcement yesterday while responding to residents during a visit to Coopers Pen, where 20 houses were bulldozed in the early morning of August 11, under the watchful eyes of a strong detachment of police personnel.

According to Holness, the demolition exercises, which impacted several families, highlighted the need to have clear policy directions in place to guide the behaviour of the security personnel during such operations.