KINGSTOn, Jamaica – The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) received technology equipment worth over $30 million from the Ministry of National Security (MNS) on Wednesday.

Duriung the handover ceremony at the Office of the Commissioner of Police in Kingston, Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson expressed that technology is critical for the JCF’s transformation.

“We have a force that can work with technology entities to implement and use correctly any level of technology we bring on board,” he explained.

The equipment included desktop computers, laptops, monitors, smart television, hard drives, printers, and scanners, among other necessities. Anderson explained that the CFCD is an ever-growing aspect of the police force, especially for criminal investigations.

“We have to make sure that we position ourselves as an organisation, particularly with experts like CFCD, who use technology to ensure that those who are guilty get convicted, to have awareness about the criminal environment and that we are aware of what comes into the country and where it’s going,” Anderson elaborated.

Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang said the ministry would continue its partnership with the CFCD by renovating the workspace and providing training opportunities.

“With the availability of these resources and training, our law enforcement entity will be better able to secure the nation and relentlessly pursue criminal networks, such that the strategic priorities of the JCF can be effectively supported,” Chang said.

The project, dubbed “PRO-CYBER”, was developed due to the partnership between the MNS and JCF. The project’s main aim is to bolster the capacity of law enforcement to investigate cybercrimes expansively and effectively.

Project PRO-CYBER is a multi-year effort that explicitly focuses on technology and infrastructure improvement, training and development, technical equipment, software licensing and workspace renovation.