KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Police Flying Squad Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigative Training Institute,(CITI) has launched a programme to enhance the criminal investigative skills of members of the island’s security forces.

The programme the first of its kind in the island, was launched on Monday and is to run for the next two weeks.

“Under this programme members of the island security forces from various divisions and units will learn how to effectively carry out criminal investigations and learn some of the methods used by the Flying Squad,” Senior Superintendent of Police Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford told the Observer Tuesday.

Ford said under this programme training will be brought to people in the field instead of them having to go to the Police Training College.

“Previously people would have to go to the training school or the academy for this we are now bringing it to the local people on their turf,” Ford said.

A total of 21 cops from various divisions and units across the island will benefit from the course that will be run by CITI lectures and resource persons.

“Under this programme we are trying to facilitate all agencies that do investigation and we are opening up our form of techniques to everybody,” said Ford.

According to Ford, the course, which also has the blessing of the Police High Command, is to promote integration, interaction with other agencies.

He said it also came about after he observed the need to bring greater training to crime fighters on the ground.

Kimmo Matthews