MONTEGO BAY, St James — National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang has expressed concern about attacks on members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force by citizens while they carry out their lawful duties.

“The increased attacks on the police by certain elements are of concern to me as minister,” Dr Chang told reporters in Montego Bay on Friday. The minister said that while a recent survey has shown that respect for the police has improved, there is an increased attack on the police in public spaces.

“One thing I can say without any contradiction is that citizens who take action that is in breach of the law, do so when there are no consequences. This is why we have a failure to apprehend traffic offenders. Therefore more people breach the traffic laws and there is a feeling out there that because of INDECOM (Independent Commission of Investigations), they can abuse the police and get away with it, and that is what is causing the problem,” stated Dr Chang.

“So, it is something that we will have to look at and see to what extent it is becoming a real problem and to what extent we can work to ensure professional standards are maintained, but at the same time, policemen feel comfortable doing their job.”

On Monday, the Police Federation stated that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force are subjecting themselves to abuse from members of the public out of fear of being reported on to INDECOM.

The federation’s comments followed the circulation on social media of videos over the weekend showing members of the public abusing and assaulting the police, while they conduct their duties.

Dr Chang argued that the police concerns were legitimate. He said that while INDECOM was created to control police excesses, the police are saying that the oversight body has become excessive in its duties.

He noted that when a policeman is charged, he may be on suspension or interdiction for years which results in, “his career gets stuck, even if proven innocent at the end of the day, he is blighted for life, because somebody may say his conduct was wrong.

What you end up with is, judgement is passed before he gets tried and in addition to that, he may, in fact, he may lose a period of his salary. Promotion gets put back another 10 years.

So, there are a lot of implications for a police officer. So, you cannot hold them entirely blameless for taking a more conscious position,” Dr Chang stated.