Police Believe Modernisation Process Working

Most law enforcement officers are in support of the ongoing modernisation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and believe that the efforts are working effectively.

This was stated by Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington on March 30, at a press conference at the Police Officers’ Club in Kingston, to reveal the findings of a survey on the perception of police regarding the modernisation process.

Data from the study, which was conducted last year, show that 61 per cent of officers agreed that the ongoing steps to transform the JCF have been successful, while 20.8 per cent strongly agreed.

The research was conducted by Lecturer, Department of Management Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona, Dr. K'adamawe K'nIfe, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Entitled, ‘An Analysis of the JCF Members’ Perceptions of the Strategic Reform and Modernisation Process,' it highlighted the views of JCF members on nine key areas. These included: organisational climate; leadership management and supervision; human resource practices and employee performance management; communication; organisational culture; fiscal management; operating procedures and practice; strategic planning; and vehicle, equipment, technology and facilities.

A structured questionnaire was administered to 869 members of the JCF, encompassing all ranks, from constable to senior superintendent of police, and from geographic and non-geographic divisions across the island.

Commissioner Ellington said the survey and its results were critical in garnering the views of the members of the force, because “you need to get their own appreciation of what is happening, test to see whether or not they believe in what is happening, and test to see whether or not they own the process as well".

"It is important that any organisation that is undergoing a process of transformation conducts this kind of introspection,” he stated, noting that there is need to assess the views of external clients, going forward.

The Police Commissioner, in the meantime, said that members of the force remain committed to the vision of being a trusted and valued partner in nation building, as the JCF continues to place emphasis on community policing and community development. 

"We have embraced the community policing strategy as the vehicle to move this effort and we have gone beyond that to scripting and rolling out, within our policing programme, what is known as a partnership strategy," he noted.

The JCF has embarked on a strategic process of modernisation and reform that is aimed at eliminating corruption, enhancing the competence and efficiency of leadership and management; improving operational efficiencies and internal and external accountability; and fostering respect for human rights.

By Athaliah Reynolds-Baker, JIS Reporter