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Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"The Belize Police Department has launched a special anti-crime operation code name "ACT" which basically means "Addressing Crime Together"."

And today that meant installing these command centers in the St. Martin's, Collet and Jane usher Areas. They insert a fixed police presence in these gang ridden and violence torn communities.

Jules Vasquez reporting
Today we saw police blanketing the different area on active patrol, their presence, perhaps both ominous and reassuring.

The GSU with their trademark MT-9 rifles, the special Patrol Unit in their signature camouflage outfits and other regular units on patrol.

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"This operation will be targeted and focused driven by intelligence and is composed of personnel of various operation units of the Belize Police Department including the anti-narcotics unit, the Gang Suppression Unit, the Special Patrol Unit, the Special Branch, the Joint Intelligence Coordinating Center, Crimes Investigation Branch, Special Assignment Team, Mobile Interdiction Team as well as personnel of Eastern Division."

"This operation will the targeting those gang members and leaders who are behind these shootings and murders. We know the members of the gangs. We know the players involved in this spate of shootings and murders and this operation will be focusing solely on them."

"We will be in their faces. We will be in their homes and we will utilize all available laws to arrest them."

ACP Edward Broaster, Commander Operations
"We will not say specifically what assets we have on the ground. But for the law abiding citizens' comfort every corner you turn you will see police officers and the criminal will be complaining that we are there in their face."

That was a recurrent theme of today's press conference - to swarm these areas with police to make it virtually impossible for illicit activities - such as weed selling - to occur.

ACP Edward Broaster, Commander, Operations
"You will see high visibility of police officers day and night and we trust that the community will work with us."

The Commissioner calls it disruption:

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"We will target, disrupt and arrest known gang members and their leaders. We will proactively target individuals and groups engage in the trafficking of illicit drugs, firearms and ammunition. We will proactively target individuals and gangs involved and engage in street level guns and drug crime and we will target known criminals through increase stop and search operations as well as house searches."

But what about regular law abiding citizens in these communities?

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"Law abiding citizens in the areas of operations that they have nothing to fear from this operation. They have nothing to fear from the police."

ACP Edward Broaster, Commander, Operations
"To those law abiding citizens we ask to be patient and forgiving if you get entangle in any of our check points or what have you. We are in no way looking or seeking to target law abiding citizens."

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"We are not out there to beat up people. We will work within the laws that we have and any wrongdoing if substantiated will be addressed, but we are dealing with some very serious criminals. We are dealing with serial killers and we will be in their faces and I will make no apology for the police being in their faces."

But for those innocent citizens who feel their rights have been abused or who want to assist with information, there's also an avenue for that:

ACP Dezeree Magdaleno
"If you see something please say something to me. The cell phones that are activated for this purpose, for this activation, what is a Digicell, the number is 634-5168 and the SMART number is 660-1164. I am assuring the public that the information you share with me would be kept confidential."

And while that is an outlet to report abuses, there's one more component to release pressure on these communities - that is gang mediation and conflict resolution headed by Chester Williams - who was back at Eastern Division today on this special purpose mission:

ACP Chester Williams, Intervention Strategists
"The main purpose of the mediation and intervention is to be able to defuse the tensions between mediations and interventions. Yes while we have the tough component of the operation, we also want to be able to provide that avenue for those persons who would want to come to the table and make a change."

But, don't get it twisted, mediation doesn't mean compromise:

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"I will tell you sir that there will be no compromising and there will no easement of the enforcement of the laws. If someone is found with something they will be arrested and charged. You have to understand that the mediation is not the mediation with the police for people to break the law. The mediation effort that will be lead is for the rivalling parties and the affecting parties to have an opportunity to sit down with a neutral person or a neutral team and to try to work out their differences. It's no mediation to say you break the law and the police will look the other way, will not happen."

ACP Chester Williams, Intervention Strategists
"You have the carrots on one hand you have the stick on the other. The issue of mediation is not per say to give people break to commit crime. Is basically and avenue that has created to ensure that young people who have conflict with each other's, that they can come to a table to mediate."

The operation continues until the end of this year - with a major monetary push from the Ministry of Home Affairs:

Hon. Elodio Aragon, Min. Of State - Home Affairs
"The ministry of home affairs is supporting this operation 100% and we have thus far acquired 15 new vehicles to assist in this operation."

And what happens after this heavy saturation becomes the new normal?:

ACP Edward Broaster, Commander Operations
"After January we will come up with another plan and we will continue to plan and until we get it."

It's left to be seen then if this perpetual police presence can create perpetual peace.

Again, those numbers to call or text with information or complaints are: 634-5168, and 660-1164.

The only notable absence at today's cop-kumbaya was Southside Eastern Division Commander Marco Vidal - who, we are told, was absent due to illness.