POLICE officers were stationed at all the major beaches frequented by Bahamians during the holiday weekend, making their presence felt and conducting traffic stops.

Assistant Commissioner Leon Bethel said the police force wanted the public to know that officers are out in force to ensure everyone has a safe holiday weekend.

“All the commanders from the different divisions are out,” he said. “They have been deployed throughout New Providence to ensure that their areas are safe.”

Officers were stationed at Yamacraw Beach, Montagu Beach, Saunders Beach, Goodman’s Bay and several other areas throughout the island.

At each of those locations, a number of people were arrested during the exercise and scores of people were issued tickets for various traffic infractions, according to the operation’s commanders.

“We are ticketing persons for traffic offenses,” said Ashton Greenslade, officer in charge of the Southern Division. “We are asking the motoring public to wear their seat belts and not drink and drive.”

Mr Bethel said senior officers want the public to know what is going on in terms of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s policing plan, which was one of the reasons for the exercise.

“We want to go into the community to explain to them,” he said. “The operation engaged in now is a preventative one.”