MICHAEL Bailey, the senior superintendent in charge of operations for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is urging parents and guardians of children attending the 2024 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships to exercise proper supervision of their kids. He said they are to ensure their children are not in possession of offensive weapons during the event.

The highly anticipated championships are scheduled to run from March 19 to 23. Bailey said that both police and private security personnel will be present in significant numbers throughout the five-day championships to ensure the safety of those in attendance.

“The JCF is warning and beseeching parents and guardians to exercise proper parenting, supervision, and guardianship in regard to their children,” said Bailey. “Warn them, and don’t just leave them to roam and do as they like. Ensure that when they leave their house they are not armed.”

Bailey said police officers will be strategically placed at various points across the Corporate Area during the championships, ready to act should any violence occur.

“We have a significant number of police personnel who will be deployed on the ground. In addition to that, we will have additional police personnel deployed in public spaces such as downtown Kingston, Half-Way-Tree, Spanish Town and other areas, to minimise the likelihood of bad behaviour — especially amongst students,” he explained.

“The security at the stadium will be as tight as it has always been — even tighter — and we will be strict with prohibited items that will not be allowed inside the stadium. All rules and regulations regarding safety and security for the venue will be enforced.

“We will have police, both overtly and covertly, inside and outside the stadium. They will be strategically placed to ensure the easy flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic and to address any security issues that arise during the champion ships,” Bailey said.

“We will work closely with them, and I know that we will have volunteers and ushers. We encourage rivalry but it must be done in a friendly and respectful manner. We want it to be a safe Champs, something that has become world-renowned, and we are proud to be associated with it. We want to put on another spectacle this year,” the senior superintendent explained.