BY THE end of August, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is to receive armoured vehicles to increase its fleet of transportation, Senator Kern Spencer, has said.
"We recently acquired two armoured vehicles for the JCF and we are expecting two more by the end of August. Also an armoured ambulance and two armoured personnel carriers are on order and will arrive in September," he told the Senate on Friday.
Senator Spencer was making his contribution to the 2002/03 State of the Nation Debate.
He said as part of the collaboration between Jamaica and the United Kingdom, five additional armoured ambulances for crime scene deployment are to be provided.
"The Force's fleet of vehicles has been increased with 24 new motorcycles and another 100 on order, which are due to arrive by the end of August," he said.
One hundred new motor cars and new radio communication equipment have also been ordered. These, Senator Spencer said, would help to increase the presence of the police, greatly increasing their response time and promote a greater sense of security among the public. These will also arrive by the end of August.
With regard to safety gear, he said the Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, has issued instructions that all units in the Force which did not already have safety gear, were to be issued with them whether the officers in these units were on the front-line or not.
SAFETY GEAR
In addition, all graduates of the Police Academy are to be issued with safety gear, as part of a standard issue kit, which will include bullet-proof vests.
"The first beneficiaries of the implementation of this policy will be the batch of recruits graduating from the Twickenham Park Police Academy this month," he stated.
The Senator said 500 new bullet-proof vests have already been acquired and another 500 have been ordered and would arrive in two weeks. "Thereafter, batches of 500 will arrive at regular intervals until the Force is fully supplied," he noted.
Turning to the construction and refurbishing of police stations, he said the Ministry, with the assistance of the National Works Agency (NWA), conducted an audit of police stations across the island. Out of this audit, there is a plan to establish a four-year programme to provide suitable physical working conditions in all stations.
"Currently the programme is at the stage where the Ministry has identified a number of stations for construction and major refurbishing and the NWA is in the process of costing this programme," he stated.
Senator Spencer indicated that the collaboration between the Jamaican and British Governments included the strengthening of the Force through training links with the British police.
The areas of training will encompass the use of firearm and non-lethal weapons, vehicle stop and search and pursuit driving.
"The focus is in the suppression of crime, the control and detection of crime and the apprehension of criminals using the most modern and efficient methods available within the context of the observation of human rights," he pointed out.
