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The Police Federation is threatening to shut down some checkpoints in the zone of special operations if what it describes as the inhumane conditions that police personnel assigned to ZOSO are working under do not improve.

“We have been doing assessment in the zones of special operations for the past few weeks, and conditions of work and the safety of our officers is an issue for us. The Police Federation is not pleased with a number of things that are happening,” Sergeant Patrae Rowe, chairman of the federation, told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Rowe said the federation has an issue with the working conditions in Dehnam Town, West Kingston, and in the St Andrew South police division, which is now under a state of emergency.

“There are long hours of work, lack of sanitary conveniences at the checkpoints, lack of proper facilities in terms of eating, seating, shelter from the elements, the quality of the food that is being prepared and shared to officers, and officer vulnerability. We believe that some of the conditions are inhumane,” he said.

He said the federation had been meeting with the Police High Command to discuss these issues. And while he said that some improvements had been made, the federation is not pleased at the pace at which the High Command is moving to have them resolved.

“At some of the facilities, sanitary conditions have improved, but in the majority of the facilities, where there are portable toilets, they are not being maintained, and these police officers are sometimes doing eight to 12-hour shifts, and you have female officers at some of these points,” he said

“We’re having discussions, but if these issues are not resolved, the Police Federation will have to take strong action in terms of exploring legal actions and look at visiting and shutting down some of these points,” he said

“This is probably the most challenging issue of advocacy for the Police Federation now. It’s a priority, and we are not getting the results as quick as we want them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Wayne Cameron, chairman of the Police Officers’ Association, said the association met with the leadership of the Kingston Western Division and the Denham Town ZOSO on Wednesday.

“We’ll be seeking a meeting with the commissioner to discuss the issues. Working conditions is always an issue, and if working conditions aren’t good, then there will be health concerns,” he said.