THE Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says citizens are now more willing to report police misconduct, which it says has advanced the work of its Professional Standards Branch (PSB), as it seeks to make the force more professional and efficient.

WILSON. people are now willing to come into the department and give their report

Head of the Corporate Affairs Division of the PSB Superintendent Lorna Wilson told JIS News that since the establishment of the Internal Affairs Anti-corruption Division of the PSB on June 1, last year, 33 members of the JCF have been arrested for acts of corruption or involvement in criminal activity. She said that of these cases, there have been several convictions, while some others are pending in the courts.

"People are now willing to come into the department and give their report. Their statements are collected and the investigative process begins. One of the things that encourages the citizens to report is the fact that they are able to get feedback on the cases that they report," said Wilson.

The Internal Affairs Anti-Corruption Division deals with acts of corruption by members of the JCF, made through reports of acts of corruption through the Complaints Division or through the Performance Auditing and Monitoring Bureau.

Wilson said the Bureau conducts audits "to see if they (members) are adhering to the standards of the force, the rules, the regulations, the policies and procedures governing good police administration. This division is helping to curtail incidence of misconduct".

The Internal Affairs Anti-corruption Division and the Performance Auditing and Monitoring Bureau are two of the six distinct departments, established under the PSB, which Commissioner Lucius Thomas has described as "crucial" to on-going efforts to build a professional force.

The other four are: Internal Affairs Complaints, Internal Affairs Bureau of Special Investigation, Corporate Planning, Research and Development Divisions and the Legal Affairs Department.
The Internal Affairs Complaints Division, which was established under the Complaints Act, deals with misconduct, such as poor service, complaints of abuse, domestic violence, and neglect of duty.

"They focus specifically on those aspects of internal investigations and once that is completed, the files are prepared and a copy is sent to the Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) as well as the Commissioner of Police for his ruling, or depending on the seriousness of the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a ruling," Wilson said.

"Once this is done, if it is a criminal procedure, the necessary systems will be put in place and the person arrested and charged and all the procedures relative to the member arrested and charged takes place," she told JIS News.

Meanwhile, the Internal Affairs Bureau of Special Investigation, which was established by an Executive Order of the Government, focuses on the use of force, involving firearms and public sector corruption.

"They have to do a criminal and administrative investigation to determine whether the shooting is one that has criminal elements, or if it needs to review the whole administrative process as it relates to the use of firearms, care and handling by members of the JCF," said Wilson.

"These divisions under the PSB seek to highlight and ensure that misconduct and other illegal acts by members of the organisation are appropriately dealt with, and that people can be willing and trust and respect the organisation to come to the various departments to report these acts, and be protected at the same time," she said.

The Corporate Planning, Research and Development Division deals with the reform and modernisation programme of the JCF, while the Legal Affairs Department assists the JCF with case preparations as well as assisting members with legal advice.

"This department is headed by trained attorneys-at-Law and these persons are members of the Force who have studied at reputable institutions such as the Norman Manley Law School," she said.

Wilson said the feedback from the public has been very good. "We are getting support, and I think our citizens have become very intolerant of any act of misconduct by members of the JCF," she added.

In the meantime, she has urged citizens not a turn a blind eye to acts of misconduct. "The police cannot be effective if we do not have the support of the citizens. When there is misconduct and you know within your heart that it is a misconduct, do not become fearful, do not turn your back on it," she said.

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