Undercover cops for JUTC buses

July 21, 2025
Newly commissioned JUTC buses.
Newly commissioned JUTC buses.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says it will deploy undercover officers as part of a suite of strategic measures to identify and apprehend perpetrators behind recent attacks on Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses.

The initiative follows a high-level meeting on Saturday, July 19, between the Police High Command and senior JUTC executives to address a troubling surge in stone-throwing and vandalism across sections of Kingston, St Andrew, and St Catherine.

The state-run bus company has reported 10 attacks between last Wednesday and Saturday. Six of the attacks took place last Friday night. Authorities believe the attacks are not random, but calculated efforts by criminal elements to disrupt public services.

"We believe there are coordinated efforts aimed at disrupting the people's service, and we are working closely with the JCF to ensure offenders are brought to justice," said Owen Ellington, managing director of the JUTC.

Ellington said that all JUTC buses are equipped with surveillance technology to aid investigations

Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake condemned the attacks, calling them deliberate and dangerous acts that place the public at risk.

"The buses are public assets owned by the people of Jamaica; any effort to undermine their operation is an attack on our citizens. We will not tolerate it," said Blake.

"These actions are being treated with the highest level of seriousness and urgency," he added.

In addition to the covert deployment of officers to detect and apprehend perpetrators in real time, the JUTC strategy involves heightened police presence along vulnerable transit routes.

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