KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government has signalled its commitment to the modernisation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), by providing the force with resources it needs to solve crime and ultimately increase the safety of Jamaicans.

Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, says the transformation of the JCF is the focus of the Effective Policing pillar in the five-pillar Crime Reduction Strategy.

“Effective policing is geared towards restoring trust in the JCF as the cornerstone of a lawful and well-ordered society. This pillar is designed to strengthen the rule of law by enhancing police resources, investigative procedures and police legitimacy with the public,” the minister explains.

According to Chang, the ministry’s continued investment in communications and technology are two of several areas that the ministry sees as high priority, as it seeks to boost the crime-fighting and investigative capabilities of the JCF.

The Statistics and Geographic Information System Unit, and Ballistics, Polygraph and Training Divisions have seen significant resource boost as a part of the transformation. 

Manager of the Statistics and Geographic Information System (GIS) unit, Inspector Orette Bascoe, says addition of the GIS unit has improved output. 

“Over the years, we moved from a manual unit to more automated processing of the data and generation of our reports.  We have also transformed in terms of the software, because we have evolved to the point that some of our software is now developed in-house,” Inspector Bascoe says.

Statistical reports that previously took three days to be completed in 2010 are now generated in 15 minutes because of the automated technology used.

“The system we use is a combination of computer hardware, software and procedure that enables the assembling, storing, manipulating and displaying of the geographically referenced information. With this special mapping output we are able to view the terrain and choose routes and sites for the safety of our officers on operations,” he explains.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dr Kevin Blake, who is in charge of the Planning, Research and Development Branch, tells JIS News that the use of technology is transforming the JCF at the operational and strategic levels.

“We have a better understanding because of spatial outputs from the various units and this helps us with risk assessment. I always tell my members that it is information that keeps you safe, so ensure before you go on the road, that you have your brief and learn about the area you are entering,” he says.

Blake says the JCF’s improved ability to compress statistics and present them in a simplified understandable format facilitates the allocation of resources. 

According to Dr Blake, the focus on technology by the ministry will continue to improve the crime-solving process of the JCF.

“Our police information and data are properly captured and recorded, as technology in the organisation has come a far way. We do have a pretty good technological back end that we are still improving,” he adds.

—JIS