THE EDITOR, Sir:
Both sides of the political fence together kept the Suppression of Crime Act far too long in effect after its enactment in March of 1974.
The vast majority of senior officers, inclusive of the Commissioner of Police, became members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force during the period the Act was in force, hence they do not know how to operate outside of the Act.
Relations hitherto enjoyed between citizens and the Police have been rendered ineffectual, they have been totally eroded. There is a generation of young people who have grown up nurturing a feeling of abuse of rights and freedoms resulting from the exercise of the special powers bestowed on the Police by that Act.
The Act was repealed in 1994 after twenty years, but if one thinks that the trend has been reversed they are sadly mistaken. There has been a reincarnation of the Act by the incorporation through legislation of the regulations of that Act into the Constabulary Force Act.
We recognise that improvements to the Force have been undertaken and are being undertaken in ensuring that we have a better Force, but alas, too late.
I am, etc.,
RETIRED COP
Bridgeport, St. Catherine
