KINGSTON, Jamaica — In light of recent statements made by Oppositions Spokesperson on National Security, Peter Bunting at the recently concluded annual conference of the Jamaica Police Federation, Minister of National Security, Horace Chang has penned a letter to Opposition Leader, Mark Golding urging him to ensure that the policy and practice of separating police operations from political interference be maintained.

Following news that the now-indicted former chairman Corporal Rohan James was barred from attending the conference, Bunting in his address, pointed out that James was muzzled by the Police High Command and shared that it was time for him to be the principal advocate on behalf of the rank-and-file members.

READ: Clash at Police Federation conference over indicted former chairman

However, in the letter addressed to Golding on Tuesday, Chang expressed that while no institution is above public criticism and question, the manner in which the latter is done must “protect the institution from undue influence in the exercise of their authority, particularly where the entity has a duty to regulate and enforce laws.”

“Jamaica has had a long and torturous history of political interference in the operations of the police force. The experience led to the development of a National policy that insulated the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) from political interference in the selection, appointment, promotion and general human resource management of the JCF,” the letter read in part. “Operational matters, including disciplinary action are always exclusively the remit of the Commissioner of Police and the Police High Command.”

Chang in the statement expressed that it is “problematic when a legislator/ political representative agitates on behalf of a specific individual officer against the High Command of the JCF in a matter that is within the exclusive disciplinary remit of the Police, and has also been the subject of a court action.”

The security minister highlighted further, that “when politicians begin to advocate on behalf of the personal cases of police officers against the police high command, and try to influence the high command through public pronouncements, this breaches the lines of separation between policy and political interference.” Chang went on to say that political interference in police matters, particularly cases with the High Command is “fraught with danger.”

He is calling on Golding to see to it that the practice of separating police operations from political interference be maintained.