TWENTY officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force recently received training in the use of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), considered the world’s leading predictive analytics software.

Hosted by GraceKennedy, the seminar was part of a commitment to support the constabulary in areas in which the company has established expertise.

“GraceKennedy has always been keen on partnering with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Many of the planning and information strategies used in the private sector can also be useful to the police. We have begun the process of sharing and we certainly urge other companies to actively look at their own ways of working and see how they can support the national effort to reduce crime,” said Douglas Orane, chairman and CEO of GraceKennedy.

In the meantime, GraceKennedy has been in discussion with SPSS Incorporated for the purchase of a network version of the software for the constabulary.

Participants in the seminar gained insight on how the SPSS software package increases statistical analysis and reporting efficiencies,” GraceKennedy said in a press release yesterday.

Participants in the training seminar came from several areas of the force’s operations, including Internal Affairs, Statistics, Bureau of Special Investigation and the National Intelligence Bureau.

SPSS, said GraceKennedy, connects data to effective strategic action by drawing reliable conclusions about current conditions and critical future events. More than 250,000 commercial, academic, and public sector enterprises around the world rely on SPSS technology.

“The Jamaica Constabulary Force is highly appreciative of GraceKennedy Limited for sponsoring such a needed training programme. At a time when the force is going through a process of modernisation and reformation, the SPSS training and software has increased the capacity and capabilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force as it relates to crime and data analysis,” the GraceKennedy release quoted Novelette Grant, the assistant commissioner of police who heads the Professional Standard Branch.

GraceKennedy said as a follow-up to the seminar, the Safe Schools Programme has been selected as an SPSS pilot programme.

The programme involves the placement of law enforcement officers at 89 troubled schools islandwide. A survey is currently underway to determine the effectiveness if the programme and GraceKennedy is offering support in coding the questionnaires, database creation, analysis and reporting.