1-800-CORRUPT, a success after one year

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch, ACP Justin Felice, has said that the 1- 800-CORRUPT line, launched in January 2009, has been very successful.
“We had an outstanding and successful year with the 1- 800 toll free line, and it is something we must continue,” the Assistant Commissioner said, during an interview with JIS News on Wednesday (January 20).
According to him, the system recorded a total of 98 calls, some of which led to arrests and disciplinary actions.
“Some of the calls were based on intelligence; others led to arrests; disruptions, where we had to stop things from happening; led to misconduct hearings; disciplinary actions taken; and pieces of the jigsaw fitted together, in terms of the network leading to corruption,” he revealed.
He added that some of the calls were directed to the Customs Department, while others were directly sent to the Anti-Corruption Branch.
He noted, however, that 2009 was also very challenging, because of the limited resources he had to work with to keep the line in the public’s purview, as well as up and running.
“This was challenging, because we had to get it out there so that citizens can be constantly aware of it. It is our task to let them know that it is a safe line, and we only need to know what they know, not who they are, and that takes advertising,” he told JIS News.
ACP Felice said that the initiative has received funding from the United States Government, and was now seeking more sustainable funding.
“We have had lots of meetings with the Media Association of Jamaica and other organisations, because we are now looking at a more sustainable funding for the 1-800 line, instead of each year having to beg money. This is a fantastic initiative and we need to look at how we can fund it from other methods starting this year,” he insisted.
He also stated that, already, the JCF has set up a small unit of three persons within the Anti-Corruption Branch to take charge of an education and communication campaign. This unit will be going out into communities and police stations to educate citizens about corruption and its penalties.
The 1- 800-CORRUPT line was launched on January 18, 2009. The JCF toll free number is intended to provide an independent, secure, and anonymous telephone line, through which members of the JCF, the Customs Department and the general public can relay information, or intelligence, on corrupt practices which members of these and other agencies may be engaged in.
All calls that are made to the 1-800-CORRUPT number are sanitised and thereafter forwarded to a dedicated point of contact within the Anti Corruption Branch. The toll free line is a partnership involving the JCF, Crime Stoppers International and Lime (formerly Cable and Wireless Limited).