By the Caribbean Journal staff

A joint unit of the St Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force has begun operations, highlighted by its first mission in St Kitts’ New Town and Mc Knight.

The so-called Delta Squad arrested one person and seized a small amount of ammunition in its first operation.

“Members of the joint security forces conducted stop-and-search foot patrol operations in the Mc Knight and Newtown areas [yesterday],” said new Police Commissioner CG Walwyn. “25 police contacts resulted in one person being arrested and 24 dime bags of marijuana being confiscated.”

The operation was part of what Walwyn called the force’s “Zero Tolerance Take Back the Streets Initiative,” and will be ongoing seven days a week.

“The public is asked to cooperate and keep in mind that this is a zero tolerance initiative.”

Last month, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas announced he would be assuming responsibility for the defence forces and police, citing increased crime.

Walwyn, who began work in September, initially offered an olive branch to to those members of gangs in the federation willing to leave their gangs.