KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — National Security Minister, Robert Montague, says the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will intensify its recruitment process to fill 3,000 available spaces within the JCF.

“It is the intention of this Government over the next couple of years, through retention techniques and increased recruitment, to bring the Force up to its establishment levels,” he said.

The minister was speaking at the 2017/2018 LASCO Police Officer of the Year awards ceremony, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on April 24.

Montague said he is also awaiting the findings of a recently completed study on the reasons for attrition within the Force, in order to deal with the issue, “as 420 men and women were lost last year and only 500 trained”.

Earlier this year, while addressing members of the Standing Finance Committee of the House, Montague revealed that members of the Force are being lost to neighbouring countries due to more lucrative salaries.

During the committee meeting, he noted that representatives from a particular Caribbean country have approached the Government for 10 officers to work in that jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the minister informed that, as of June 1, all smartphones will be pre-installed with the Stay Alert application.