Thomas THE POLICE have responded to National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips' statement about the level of corruption in the Force, limiting the malady to five per cent of the membership and pointing out that steps are being taken to arrest it.
The police spokesmen also revealed that a policy document dealing with corruption in the Jamaica Constabulary Force is being reviewed by various sectors of the Force prior to implementation.
Dr. Phillips told The Gleaner Tuesday that he had initiated discussions with members of the Police Service Commission in a bid to tackle corruption within the Force, which he described as being at an intolerable level.
The Minister told The Gleaner that the Commission was seriously looking at "how best to preserve the integrity of the force and is currently doing its deliberations... looking at how best to proceed."
BEST OF INTEGRITY
Deputy Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, estimated that 95 per cent of the police were honest, hard-working, decent people, with the best of integrity.
"Not all the policemen or women that drive a posh car, or own a big house, are involved in corruption," DCP Thomas said.
According to DCP Thomas, Commissioner Francis Forbes does not have the power to hire and fire police personnel. However, he said that the new Force policy on corruption would address the issue as it affects the membership.
Chairman of the Police Federation, Sergeant David White, responded that there was no doubt that corruption existed in the Force. He said that the practice is causing serious problems within the organisation.
FEDERATION TALKS TOUGH
Sergeant White said that the executive of the federation was currently reviewing the policy document on corruption to determine how they could make a contribution towards making it effective enough.
"The federation will not support any of its members who are caught red-handed in the acts of corruption," said Sgt. White.
Speaking at the JCF's last annual conference, Commissioner Forbes warned the federation that it should not use its funds to defend corrupt police.
"I agree with the Commissioner in some aspects," Sgt. White said yesterday, but added, "a man is innocent until proven guilty." He said that some cases were only allegations which could not be proved.
