ISCF and JCF Merger Proceeding as Planned

The Ministry of National Security is advising that the process of merging the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) into the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is proceeding as planned.

The Commissioner of Police began issuing letters of re-assignment to members of the ISCF on Monday April 7, 2014 and it is expected that all members of the ISCF would have received their letters by today Friday April 11, 2014.  ISCF members will have five days within which to sign and return the acceptance letters. The re-assignments were due to take effect on May 1, 2014 but that date will be deferred pending the outcome of court action by the Special Constabulary Force Association

The Ministry remains convinced that the merger of the Forces is in the best of the country. The Ministry notes that the leadership and membership of the ISCF Officers Association have fully embraced the re-assignment as well as some 67% of those who have so far received letters of re-assignment.

As at 2:00 p.m. today Friday April 11, the number of members of the ISCF who have affirmed their acceptance of the re-assignments are as follows:

The terms of the re-assignment which arrived at after extensive consultation with members of the ISCF, include the following:

1. The date of enrollment in the ISCF will be treated as the date of enlistment to the JCF. However, the effective date of entitlement to any salary adjustment commensurate with the JCF rank will be the effective date of the re-assignment.
2. Years of service in the ISCF shall be deemed as years of service in the JCF for the purposes of pension.
3. All ISCF members will be transferred into the equivalent rank in the JCF and their respective periods of service in their current rank shall be deemed as periods of service in the equivalent rank in the JCF.
4. Members with more than two years’ service in the ISCF will not be required to serve a probationary period. Those members with less than two years’ service will do probation in accordance with Regulation 24(6)a of the Police Service Regulations 1961, taking into account their first date of enrollment in the ISCF, which is to be regarded as enlistment in the JCF.

It should be noted that persons promoted on or after November 1, 2013 will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. This requirement will apply to both (former) ISCF members as well as persons who are currently members of the JCF. The number of persons from the ISCF that have been promoted since November 1, 2013 is ninety (90). The total membership of the ISCF is over 2,000 thus the number of those affected by the probationary requirement is less than 5%.

The Ministry wishes to advise that following the transfer of members of the ISCF to JCF sections of the Constables (Special) Act will be repealed.  In preparation for the incorporation of the ISCF into the JCF, the Minister of National Security, the Commissioner and the Commandant have been engaged in an extensive consultative process and the Ministry is satisfied that the decision is consistent with the needs of the country and is grateful for the support shown by the majority of members of the ISCF and the JCF.