THE security forces, despite the expiration of the State of Emergency at midnight last night, vowed to keep up the pressure on criminals with increased presence on the nation's roads.

Police chief Owen Ellington announced yesterday that there will be increased cordon and searches, intensified road policing operations, roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints as part of the security forces' plans to continue their onslaught against criminals.

Ellington, at a press conference at his office in Kingston, where he was supported by chief of defence staff Major General Stewart Saunders and the head of communications at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Colonel Rocky Meade, said the police will also intensify their visibility on the roads, strengthen street crimes units, increase their collaborative efforts with the Customs Department's Financial Investigative Division and Tax Administrative Department, and increase community policing initiatives.

The heads of both the army and police had requested a one-month extension to the State of Emergency imposed in the parishes of Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine, but the Opposition People's National Party abstained from the vote in Parliament Tuesday, which caused a defeat of the extension sought as the Government's numbers were not enough to pass the motion.

But Commissioner Ellington made it clear that despite the ending of the emergency measures, which allowed a longer period of detention for suspected criminals, there would be no letting up.

"I want it to be made clear to these individuals, and I want them to note the change in environment which we have achieved in this country in the last two months since they have been disrupted and incapacitated. I want to warn them that if they return to the streets and start back their criminal activities, generating violence and profiting off violence, they will feel the full weight of law enforcement," Ellington told the press conference.

At least five communities were expecting to start feeling the pressure of the security forces last night as the commissioner said the constabulary had sought permission from Security Minister Dwight Nelson to impose five curfews in at least five communities.

In the meantime, the police said the majority of the more than 4,000 persons detained under the State of Emergency had been released. Ellington said the police had secured 128 detention orders, but 68 of that number have been released.

"There are 23 who we will recommend to the honourable minister that they be released from custody. There is a hardcore of 18 who we have not yet charged and in respect of whom we are trying to build cases. We will seek the permission of the courts to remand these individuals. If we do not get it, then we will release them from custody," Ellington said.

At the same time, 16 persons have been charged with serious crimes, including murder and shooting, while another eight were expected to be charged yesterday.

Meanwhile, Major General Saunders said despite the end of the State of Emergency the soldiers under his command would continue to bolster the constabulary's crime- fighting initiative.

"I want all Jamaica to understand that the Jamaica Defence Force will continue to support the Jamaica Constabulary Force in our present endeavours and will continue to do so until such time that crime has reached tolerable levels," Major General Saunders said.