The challenge of specialised policing THE EDITOR, Sir: THE GOVERNMENT should move towards adopting the US model of specialised policing especially as it relates to customs, the postal service and transit policing. These specialised police will always be necessary because criminals will always be tempted to use these services for illegal purposes and to prey upon passengers and goods in transit. Specialised policing encourages citizens who wish to become specialised police officers to choose their career path at the time of joining a police service. It should also help to uplift the quality of police recruits into the service because there are citizens that simply do not wish to get involved in the pitfalls of regular street crime policing. The law should prohibit any authority from assigning a specialised police officer to any other duty without personal consent for each duty assigned. The Jamaica Customs Act states that Custom Officers are constables. The government should be legally able to arm the Customs Enforcement Division and let them operate in a similar manner to the US Customs and independently investigate, arrest and prosecute the illegal importers of firearms and other contrabands. The ISCF already has the basic experience and culture of a specialised police service despite the fact that it is currently authorised to do all the duties of the regular force. The ISCF Act should be amended to formally authorise the ISCF Commandant and the Post and Telegraph Department, the Transport Authority, the Airport Authority and the Port Authority to establish Postal and Transit divisions inside the ISCF. Postal and Transit Special Constables should be legally employees of both the ISCF and the other department and should wear identification patches on their uniforms identifying them as members of these specialised divisions. The ISCF should be responsible for recruitment, training and discipline and each department should be responsible for the daily operations of its Special Constables. Each department should also be required to reimburse the Ministry of National Security the gross pay of Special Constables assigned to its department. I am etc., JOHN GORDON johngordon78@hotmail.com New York, New York Via Go-Jamaica
|
