Magistrates' Court was swarming with newly-arrested people yesterday morning as part of the Police crackdown of those in violation of outstanding warrants.

And with roadblocks set up at various check points in the Paget and Hamilton area, Police hauled in several people off the street to appear before Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves.

Court sources admitted that administrators were finding it difficult to keep up with the high number of arrests.

But they said that although the workload was extra, signs of success were being seen with the stepped-up patrols that started last Friday.

In fact, Chief Inspector Anthony Mouchette, who heads up the recently formed Warrant Team task force said that there has been an estimated $12,000 collected since Friday in outstanding warrants. The figure remained stagnant at $1.4 million over the past several months.

Most of yesterday's charges in Plea Court were traffic related.

And to ensure that the court received the money immediately, Mr. Greaves remanded people in custody until their fines are paid.

Among those who found themselves being remanded was Matthew Timothy Mills, 35, who owed a series of traffic fines that totalled $5,000.

Mills, of Middletown Drive, Pembroke, also pleaded guilty to stealing $145 from Four Star Pizza on November 2, this year.

Mills said he stole the money to settle old debts and was fined $100 for the offence.

Meanwhile, Mills told Mr. Greaves that he did not have the money pay the outstanding fines, which he had incurred in 1998, 2000, and 2001.

And before remanding him in custody, Mr. Greaves said: “This is a serious crackdown. I'm looking to see if there is anything I can do to ease you up - but you'll have to raise it from Her Majesty's jail house. You borrow for your fines and then pay them back, that's how it's done.”

In a similar vain, Kyle Paul, 21, of Soundview, Sandy's Parish, was taken into custody for not being able to pay $1,510 in traffic fines that occurred in April this year.

Mr. Greaves said: “He had from April until now to pay - pay all those or go to jail.

But in yesterday's proceedings, there were some people who had already settled their matters with the court, yet were caught up in the morning's arrests. In their cases Chief Insp. Mouchette said that it was unfortunate, but there will be glitches”, because the computer systems are not up to date. And he advised people who thought that they might have outstanding warrants to contact Magistrates' Court or Police Prosecutions.

“We will take the steps to put you in court as soon as possible to save people the embarrassment of being arrested,” he said.