119 New Members Added to ISCF

The complement of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), has been boosted with the addition of 119 new members, comprising 88 males and 31 females.
On July 4, the new members were presented with certificates at a Passing-Out Parade, held at the Carl Rattray Training College in Runaway Bay, St. Ann.
“These 119 persons are graduating at a critical juncture in our history. I say it is a critical juncture for two reasons. Firstly, because of the alarming state of crime and violence in our country and secondly, because we are on the cusp of a new era of policing in Jamaica,” State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Arthur Williams said at the ceremony.
He pointed out that since the start of 2008, there have been 826 murders, 747 cases of shooting, 386 cases of rape, 211 cases of carnal abuse, 107 cases of larceny, 967 cases of break-ins and 1,183 cases of robbery.
“It is not going to be easy, because there are some criminals out there who are waging war against both citizens and the security forces, with the aim of terrorizing and intimidating the entire society. These terrorist gunmen would like to believe that the gun gives power not to obey the laws of the land, but gives them the freedom to rob, to rape, to shoot and murder at will,” Senator Williams said, adding that the persons who were committing those criminal offences were in the minority.
He reminded the graduates that there were still decent law abiding citizens in the society and that they should be treated with respect.
“You are being given enormous power – the power to deprive people of their liberty. You must only exercise that power when it is absolutely necessary and even then you must have due regard for the rights of people and continue to treat them with respect,” the State Minister urged the graduates.
He welcomed them to the ISCF and wished them all the best as they work to make communities safer.