ONE hundred district constables are slated to join the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) within the next four months.

Minister of National Security Robert Montague made the disclosure on Sunday, at the 37th anniversary church service of the United District Constable Association (UDCA).

“As we move to build a better Jamaica, I am happy to inform that 100 district constables are entering the police training college to be trained as members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. We congratulate them,” he said.

Minister Montague established that there is a need to increase the number of police officers on the streets because the country is faced with the twin problem of illegal guns and a lack of information from citizens.

He noted that the training of the district constables will boost the human resource capability of the JCF and reduce the shortage of police personnel in the short- and long-term.

“After a minimum of two years as a [district constable], sitting an exam and passing, doing a physical, a medical, and passing a lie detector test, they will be trained for four months, be on probation for two years, then become proud members of the Constabulary Force,” he said.

The minister also use the opportunity to remind district constables of recent amendments to make them pensionable.

“As minister, and on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, I salute your service. Effective April 2016, district constables are now pensionable,” he stated.

The training of district constables is part of the move to drive effective policing, one of the five pillars of the crime reduction strategy being implemented by the Ministry of National Security.