According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s own website their official staff number is 9,930 plus 55 auxiliary positions, making a total of 9,985; its current strength (as of 2011) is 8,441.
I am unsure how up to date that information is as the site still has Dr.Carl Williams as it’s commissioner on some pages.
Notwithstanding, that the numeric strength of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has increased exponentially from the 80’s to early 90’s when I served.
This was made possible because the JCF absorbed the 2000 or so members of the Island Constabulary Force (ISCF) it’s Auxiliary into the main force.
Despite the critical need for more police officers the JCF has been unable to grow above the numbers it released, despite constant training of new recruits.
Unusually high attrition numbers have plagued the force for years. Even recently trained officers are constantly on the look out for greener pasture. Many in the department are trapped in a life of semi-poverty they would ditch in an instant if the opportunity arose.
Homicides have increased from 152 in 1970 to 1680 in 2009. despite having added exponentially to the numeric strength of the Force and upgrades in equipment and tools of the trade the Police continue to argue that they do not have the adequate resources to do the job.
This despite increases in the departments mobility , computers , ballistic vests and modern weapons and accouterments murders and other serious crimes have seen a steady year by year increase.
One thing is certain, is that the JCF has been hampered by a deficit of trust and support even as it is hamstrung by lack of actual resource.
One of the larger issues which continue to hamper law enforcement is the continued unproven criminal coddling notion that being tough on crime has not worked.
Secondly is the bold faced lie that being tough on crime is equivalent to being abusive of citizen’s rights.
There is no mutual exclusivity in the two interest areas.
Aggressive law enforcement done with a smile, “sorry to ask this of you but it’s for your safety” goes a long way in calming fears and getting people on your side.
There are no shortage of experts with graphs and a mouthful of arguments on this issue . This writer does not need their graphs and Monday Morning quarterbacking .
I lived it.
In 2005 there were 1674 homicides reported to police.
In 2006 there were 1340
In 2007 there were 1574
In 2008 there were 1601
In 2009 there were 1680
In 2010 there were 1428, this was before the Security Forces were unshackled and allowed to go after Criminals in Tivoli Gardens.
Murders fell to 1125 in 2011 . This means that when compared to the most recent preceding year of 2010, 303 Jamaicans were allowed to keep their lives.
Those are irrefutable facts.
Imagine if the Police are allowed to walk into each and every Garrison on this little Island of 2.8 million , PNP or JLP and do their jobs?
This drop off of over 20% in that one year speaks louder than the faux experts and self appointed authorities on crime in the country.
Simply put , putting a boot heel on the neck of Murderers , Rapists and other serious felons is the only way to get crime down.
It is high time that the fanciful smoke and mirrors be dispensed with.
This stupid contention that we have tried the hard nosed approach has no relationship with facts .
There was never a time that the Jamaican Police were allowed to go into Garrisons and arrest dangerous criminals without far reaching consequence to themselves.
The pervasive lawlessness which pervades the culture is a result of political interference in law enforcement and politicians actively shielding known Murders , Rapists, and even Cop killers.
TIME NOW FOR A PROBATION DEPARTMENT.….
It may be time now for a probation department as this administration say it is focused on reducing crime.
A probation Department will free up more police man hour to tackle crime head on . It also provides up to the minute information on criminals and their movements.
Instead of reporting to a Police station a paroled offender or an offender on probation reports directly to a Probation office.
If he or she violates the terms or their release from jail it is the duty of the Probation office/officer to take that offender/s back into custody.
A well designed Probation department eases much burden from the police allowing them to go after criminals . Any upgrade of the Criminal justice system should also include the formation of a Probation Department.
The Probation Department should be closely aligned with the Corrections department but must work with the JCF in a close and collaborative way as well.
LAY MAGISTRATES(JP’s)
If our country is to be a place where people can feel comfortable to live and raise their families in safety , security and prosperity, leaders must lead.
These proposals are not novel ideas,
These are ideas which have been co-opted by many other successful nations into their justice systems.
It boggles the mind that the Administration can be talking about increasing the numbers of JP’s otherwise called lay magistrates, when the history of the Lay Magistrate Program has been at best a huge contributor to crime and corruption on the Island.
This program since it’s inception has been populated with political hacks and criminal minded hustlers from both political parties.
It has been an integral part of the rot and corruption which has characterized our culture since Independence.
It is high time that this corrupting influence be discontinued rather than broadened .