Police Commissioner George Jackson has urged the public not to ask why a new Police initiative is taking place, but rather ask what they can do to help.

At a news conference held at the Police Headquarters in Prospect, Mr. Jackson and Superintendent Mike Jackman launched Operation Safer Streets, a "robust style" of policing instead of the usual community policing to crackdown on crime.

This initiative comes in direct response to the holiday shootings where Jakai Harford, 24, was shot in the shoulder in the early hours of Christmas morning in the Camp Hill area of Southampton. Around 9 p.m. Boxing Day, Aquil Richardson, 30, was murdered and Levar Smith, 25, shot in the legs, also in Camp Hill.

At the conference, Supt. Jackman was asked by a member of the media why the initiative is being started now instead of a few years ago.

Supt. Jackman said they want to reassure the public that the scheme won't run for a day or two then disappear. He explained the public will be impacted more by this new style of policing but also plan to maintain community policing.

He also said the service is looking into training additional officers to be armed officers and are currently recruiting to up their manpower.

Supt. Jackman said they are also working with the Government and Crime Stoppers and plan to look at legislative changes in order to create long term solutions.

When he finished answering the question, the same member of the media asked why the question wasn't answered directly.

Mr. Jackson said: "The public should not be asking why now, but what they can do to help decrease violence in the community."

Asked by this newspaper how the service can explain to the public that this style of policing is not an infringement of their civil liberties, Supt. Jackman explained they are following the human rights law.

"Nothing will impede the public's human rights. There will be no real change. If you break the law, expect to get dealt with. We are not stereotyping. Not stopping any specific type of people."