Les Green, a Scotland Yard detective who has been working in Jamaica for nearly a year-and-half, was yesterday appointed an assistant commissioner of police (ACP), the second British import to be named to the top ranks of the constabulary in nine months as part of the government’s effort at police reform.

Mark Shields, the a deputy commissioner, who has charge of the crime portfolio, joined the Jamaican police force from Scotland Yard last March and will now have Green as one of his deputies.

Three more foreigners are soon to join the local constabulary in senior positions – the next, also an Englishman, expected next month.

“One is suppose to (take up the new post) as early as February 1, but with the other two I am not sure,” Gilbert Scott, the permanent secretary in the security ministry, told reporters yesterday at a hastily called press conference.

With nearly 1,700 homicides last year, a rising crime wave the Jamaican government is keen to revamp the image of the island’s police force, which has developed a reputation for corruption, inefficiency and brute force.

Last year, with the British government agreeing to underwrite the salaries of recruits, Jamaica advertised internationally for senior cops, leading to the appointment of Shields, who had previously worked on cases here and advised the local constabulary.

Recently, Green, who has been described as a top flight detective by people who have worked with him here and in London, has been working with Operation Kingfish, the task force that was established to target drug runners and extortion gangs.

Yesterday, Karl Angell, the spokesman for police chief Lucius Thomas, told reporters that Green has worked here for the past 15 months, mostly under cover, playing a role in the indictment and conviction of a number of alleged gang figures. These include former Andem gang member, Kevin Tyndala aka “Richie Poo” and the arrest of Matthews Lane area leader, Donald “Zeeks” Phipps who was placed before the courts last year to answer to murder charges.

“Now, he is officially on as one of our assistant commissioners of police and his particular role will be serious and organised crime,” Angell said. “He’ll be a part of the crime portfolio which is headed by DCP Shields.”

Said Green: “I look very much forward to carry out my duties as ACP… I have been working closely for the past 15 months with JCF officers and this is certainly a new step for me.”

He said his strategy would be centred largely around using “intelligence” to combat organised crime.