Accelerated Promotion Programme Has Boosted JCF’s Human Resources Capacity

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Accelerated Promotion Programme has been hailed by the Crime Monitoring Oversight Committee (CMOC) for some of the significant improvements observed in the Force’s human resource.

The programme, which was launched in 2020, aims to expand the number of senior officers in the constabulary by promoting rank and file cops after extensive vetting and training.

CMOC’s Chairman, Lloyd Distant, told JIS News that the programme has been crucial in building the capacity of persons in the JCF.

“The Accelerated Promotion Programme, you can see the successes and the progress there. There is also a programme on training additional detectives, and recently, we have seen the graduation or the promotion of, I think, of some 300 persons from the ranks of Sergeant to Inspector,” Mr. Distant said.

The Accelerated Promotion Programme is a crucial initiative under the people pillar, which is one of five pillars monitored by CMOC under the JCF transformation programme.

The others are Force structure, Force infrastructure, equipment and technology.

Mr. Distant said that under Force structure, the JCF has been equipped with a fit-for-purpose organisational structure, which continues to improve.

He informed that the JCF has committed to additional measures such as engaging more legal officers.

“This is to support the officers on the road, so that when investigators are putting their case together and they get to court you want to ensure that they are putting forward the most robust case as possible.” Mr. Distant told JIS News.

In addition, he noted that the JCF “now has a welfare division focused on that interface between the high command and rank and file officers, which is important. So, under the Force structure, they have all the positions and departments in place led by competent people. We just need to ensure that they are adequately resourced”.

As it relates to the Force infrastructure pillar, Mr. Distant told JIS News that approximately 140 police stations are to be improved and, so far, about 65 have been given priority.

“What has been happening with the improvements in the stations in terms of accessibility, not only for the officers but also for the inmates, it has been significant, and we commend the Government,” he noted.

Mr. Distant said that under the pillar of Force equipment and technology, the Government has made massive investments in making sure the JCF is being retrofitted with the necessary resources.

“There are fit-for-purpose motor vehicles, which have some really advanced capabilities, and there are several of them in the field. At the JCF Expo, people saw the kind of technology that they have in those vehicles; it’s amazing,” he pointed out.

“When people say we are backwards, they don’t understand the quality of the different technology that is being used by the JCF,” Mr. Distant added.