Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force strategic review panel, Dr Herbert Thompson, displays a copy of the panel's report during a press conference at Jamaica House yesterday. - ricardo makyn/staff photographer

The government has made a number of changes to the recommendations to transform the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Dr Herbert Thompson, head of the JCF strategic review panel, said the modifications were made to the proposed name change for the JCF, the establishment of a court of inquiry in Kingston with branches in each parish and the merger of the Police Service Commission with the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority.

The panel had recommended a name change of the JCF to the Jamaica Police Service and the acronym JPS. However, public opinion has been against the acronym which is already being used by the light and power entity, Jamaica Public Service Company.

Proposed merger

The strategic review panel also proposed the merger of the Police Service Commission and the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority.

However, the Government is awaiting a ruling from the solicitor general before undertaking that recommendation as the Police Service Commission is entrenched in the Constitution, which means the law might have to be changed before it can be given more powers.

Implementation critical

At a press conference held yesterday at Jamaica House, Thompson said it was critical to implement the recommendations of the review panel.

"By whatever names previous studies were called, the fact is that several reports were done prior to this one and many are still sitting where they were laid. This time, we don't only want to see implementation but we are asking for public support just to nudge the State and the powers that be that the recommendations are to be implemented," he said.

Dr Ann-Marie Barnes, chief technical director in the Ministry of National Security, told reporters that the ministry had already begun drafting an implementation plan with the related costs which will be presented to the National Security Council in a few weeks.

The strategic review report was released in June after nine months of consultations.

The 86-page document contains 124 recommendations.