JCF, German police to engage in exchange programme
KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Jamaican Embassy in Germany, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Berlin School of Economics and Law (BSEL) in Germany, have signalled their interest to continue working together following a recently concluded information-sharing session with a group of German police officers.
The ministry, in a release today, said the session was held on July 16 at the German school and that the German officers indicated an interest in undertaking a short term exchange or internship programme with the JCF.
The ministry said the move is in its early stages of planning, but stakeholders involved believe it will further materialise with more consultation.
The information sharing session was conceptualised in 2016 to facilitate officers pursuing their Bachelors Degree in Professional Qualification for the Higher Police Service, at the BSEL.
Senior Superintendent at the JCF in charge of the Mobile Reserve, Terrence Bent, who made a presentation via Skype, welcomed the proposal of an exchange programme between the two countries noting that Jamaica and Germany share common variables in crime.
”We have several similarities, cyber crime is an issue, transnational crime involving the trafficking of persons into Europe and especially Germany. We hope that we can institutionalise the initiative,” he said.
Noting the immense impact of such an initiative, Professor at BSEL, Dr Francine Jobatey, expressed pleasure at being able to provide their students with such an experience.
“This will certainly stand out as a stellar moment in their time as university students and will guide them in their later work as Law Enforcement Officers,” she stated.
The ministry said the police officers involved were exposed to a plethora of information including the mandate and history of the JCF, the organisation’s role in law enforcement, the practice of community policing in Jamaica and the country’s vulnerability and response to the “guns-for-drugs” trade.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Jamaican Embassy in Germany, Keisha Kal Witter, lauded the proceedings saying that, “we value the opportunity to present another side of Jamaica. The topic of policing in Jamaica is rather important as it presents the other side‟ to the news on crime in Jamaica.”
