KINGSTON, Jamaica — Acting Commissioner of Police, Novelette Grant, while looking at the relations between spouses noted that people ought to be honest with their emotions, and not let differences or disagreements get to the point where interactions become abusive.

She was speaking during a women’s empowerment session held at the Women Resource Outreach Centre’s (WROC) Beechwood Avenue location in Kingston on February 14,

“We want non-violent forms of self-expression. You don’t have to express yourself with violence — neither in words nor in deeds,” she said.

Grant also implored individuals to respect other people’s personal space, and not perpetrate unwanted advances.

“We need to have sexual respect — understanding that no means no, and if I say don’t touch me, it’s not because I think I am better than you, it’s because my body is my own and I never gave you permission to touch me,” she said.

This, she said, also traces back to the socialisation from the home, where boys need to be taught appropriate boundaries as well as girls, “so that they don’t accept just about any treatment.”

Held under the theme: ‘Love Me to Live, Don’t Love Me to Death’, the session was organised by the LASCO/Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Top Cop finalists for 2016-2017. The 12 finalists, who are all males, put on the event as a demonstration of their united stand against violence against women in Jamaica.

Participants were provided with personal safety tips and benefited from motivational talks from Senior Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Flow Jamaica, Rochelle Cameron; Student Services and Development Manager at the University of the West Indies, Nadeen Spence; Manager, Brand Experience and Special Projects, Sagicor Group Marketing, Alysia Moulton-White; and media personality Emprezz Golding.

The Police Officer of the Year Award was established in 2000 through a partnership between LASCO and the JCF to publicly acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the members of the force.