Gov’t Expanding Capacity Of JCF

The Government is significantly expanding the capacity of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) by increasing the intake, training and development of personnel from the current average of approximately 500 to 1,500 annually.

This was stated by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, as he delivered the Throne Speech to mark the ceremonial opening of the 2022/23 parliamentary year in the House of Representatives on February 10.

He said that existing infrastructure is also being upgraded, with more than 100 police facilities renovated and eight new facilities constructed since the commencement of Project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct (ROC).

Additionally, the Governor-General said that the Government is modernising the country’s law-enforcement and criminal-justice systems by increasing reliance on forensic science to investigate crimes and secure convictions.

“Ground was broken in November 2021 for the construction of the country’s first forensic pathology autopsy suite. This is the final component of the upgrading of the Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine to a world-class forensic pathology unit,” he noted.

He informed that the new electronic Traffic Ticket Management System (TTMS) will enhance public order and safety by ensuring that tickets and related information will be accurate and readily available to support the efficient enforcement of fines and penalties.

The Throne Speech outlined the priority programmes and policies to be pursued by the Government in the new fiscal year, which begins on April 1.

It was delivered under the theme Building Our Jamaica: Peace, Opportunity and Prosperity.