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LONDON — Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, has said that while the country's crime rate is trending down, the high crime over the last 40 years has cost the country dearly, in terms of economic development. "Conservatively, if we had not had the crime rate that we have had over (the) last four decades, we would have three...

Spontaneous applause and cheers erupted inside the Grand Ballroom of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on October 31, as Corporal Oneil Patterson was named the LASCO Police Officer of the year 2012/2013. Corporal Patterson, who works in Area 4, Kingston Eastern Division won from a field of nine competitors. He walked away with the top prize of $200,000...

Head of the Organized Crime Investigation Division (OCID), Senior Superintendent (SSP) Fitz Bailey, said that all sectors of society must regard crime fighting as a serious issue, which requires their full support and participation. SSP Bailey, who was addressing the press launch of a security expo on Tuesday (Oct. 30), at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Western Campus...

The Government has been working on a strategic fleet procurement and maintenance policy, to prolong the life of the vehicles deployed to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, has informed. The policy, being formulated jointly with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), deals with the rationalisation of a wide variety of vehicles in terms of make...

The effectiveness of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Polygraph Unit has been strengthened with the donation of two motor vehicles and polygraph equipment by the Canadian Government. The items were handed over on Wednesday October 17, 2012 by Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Robert Ready, following a tour of the unit, located on...

Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, says in the near future, all persons being recruited to serve in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will be required to undergo a polygraph examination, commonly known as a lie detector test. At present, all senior JCF officers, and those being assessed for sensitive assignments, must undergo a polygraph exam. However, Commissioner Ellington noted that...

The Sex Offenders Registry and the Sex Offences Register are one step closer to becoming reality, following the Senate’s approval of Regulations governing their establishment. The Senate on Friday October 12, 2012 endorsed the Sexual Offenses (Registration of Sex Offenders) Regulations, 2012, tabled in the Senate last week (October 5), which seeks to establish and operate the register and registry....

Cabinet has approved a $69 million contract to Guardsman Limited for the provision of security services at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester. Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, told the Jamaica House press briefing that the contract period is three years. It covers 24-hours per day security service to ensure the safety of personnel, equipment,...

The Government has agreed to the establishment of a pension programme for District Constables as a component of the 2010/2012 Heads of Agreement with the island's police groups. Another notable feature of the agreement is that the police groups will forego wage increase for the period. Speaking at the signing of the agreement at the Finance Ministry's Heroes Circle offices...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, says the recent incident where five women were raped in Montego Bay should be a watershed for Jamaicans to stand against criminality, and expose criminals to the security forces. "This horrible incident can be a watershed, a turning point, an opportunity for all people of goodwill in Montego Bay, and in Jamaica, to...

Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, said that all well-thinking Jamaicans must stand up against brutality, especially when it is directed at women and children. She was speaking yesterday morning (September 26) in the wake of the brutal attack on five females in Irwin, St. James. The victims, ages eight, 14, 16, 23 and 28, were attacked in their...

The South Camp Road Rehabilitation Centre, in Kingston, is being renovated at a cost of $65 million to accommodate the island's female inmates and juveniles. This facility previously housed male inmates, but is being remodelled to accommodate inmates from the sole female prison - Fort Augusta.  The land on which Fort Augusta is located, as well as surrounding parcels, were...