A witness protection programme for rank and file cops who are willing to testify against senior officers suspected of involvement in corruption and other criminal activities is being discussed by the police hierarchy.

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas confirmed last week that the programme was being contemplated and that it would likely be instituted through the Professional Standards Branch (PSB) headed by Assistant Commissioner Novelette Grant.

“We are now putting the pieces together to come up with a policy, but it is definitely being worked on,” Thomas told the Observer.

He said that the policy is part of the Constabulary Reform Programme now being prepared under the Corporate Strategy and that a British consultant is currently in Jamaica working on the policy draft as part of the funding under a technical assistant agreement between the UK and Jamaica. However, the police chief said he could not speak to the technical details of the policy as it has not yet been drafted.

Grant, who is working closely with the British consultant to prepare the policy, was tight-lipped about the programme.

“We are not ready to discuss it with the media as yet,” she said when contacted. “We are still in the explorative stages, but what I can say (is) we are looking at what does not exist, what needs to be done and how to get it done. We are looking to come up with a coherent plan.”

However, sources close to the PSB said the policy will be ready for roll out by year end.

Explaining the programme, one source referred to it as a ‘witness management programme’ which will be dovetailed into the civilian witness protection programme.

“Police who give evidence against corrupt cops, be it against a superintendent or (against) a constable, but especially against superintendents, these cops will be protected in order to get evidence to prove the case against the corrupt officer,” the source said. “You must understand that giving evidence against an officer could be dangerous to the witnesses and their family.”

According to the source, the British, Canadian, United States and Caricom police forces have already indicated their willingness to participate in the programme which, he said, will be a more comprehensive programme than the civilian witness protection programme.

“The programme would see to the welfare, support and protection of the subject, that is the policeman or woman and their family. It will be an air tight policy,” the source said.

The policy comes against the background of the PSB crackdown on police corruption since June 2005. So far, 67 cops have been arrested and charged with breaches of the Corruption Act.

Since the beginning of this year, the PSB has nabbed 48 more cops for corruption and there are 14 files now with the director of public prosecution (DPP) awaiting his ruling.

Police Officers Association (POA) chairman Deputy Superintendent Norman Heywood embraced the proposed policy, saying it will give more support to policemen who come forward.

Pointing that junior ranks will not come forward with evidence against a senior cop because they are afraid of their seniors.

“A victim support policy for police will have a positive impact on police officers who want to come forward with evidence and give statements about allegations of corruption within the senior ranks,” Heywood said.

The POA chairman emphasised that all allegations of corruption against senior officers are investigated and the files sent to the DPP for a ruling.

“The fact that corruption at a certain level takes place in a very clandestine manner would mean that once the accomplice agrees. benefits from the corrupt act, they will not come forward and give us the evidence. That is what makes corruption at that level (senior officers) so difficult to get rid of in the force.”

The perception in some quarters of the constabulary is that the prevalence of corruption is directly related to rank and file members who feel that their superiors are corrupt.