Cuddled in his father's arms, this youngster was oblivious to what was happening around him, during a public forum hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town and the Caymanas Business District at the Police Academy, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, Thursday night.
-Ricardo Makyn photoTHE JAMAICA Constabulary Force (JCF) has implemented a new policy aimed at addressing the problems of excessive use of force and the abuse of citizens by the police.
This was disclosed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alrick Lecky at a public forum hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town and the Caymanas Business District Thursday night, at the Police Academy, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.
"I would like to tell you that the long awaited re-constituted 'Human Rights and Police Use of Force and Firearms Policy' has been published and we are currently carrying out a massive education campaign among the general members of the police force, to ensure it is understood by everyone," ACP Lecky told the forum.
Attorney-at-law Andre Earl, who was the moderator during the panel discussion, said between 2000 and 2002, over 700 complaints were made against the police. The complaints filed related to the seizure of property, harassment, threats and abuse of power.
ACP Lecky said a critical component of the new policy is that risk assessment must be carried out for every planned police operation and details kept. He said 24 police officers drawn from various divisions attended a multi-rank risk assessment workshop on Tuesday, November 25.
Over 40 members of the officer corp and representatives from highly operational locations attended another workshop on Wednesday.
"We are satisfied that at the end of the education process you will see tremendous improvements in our performance on the ground," ACP Lecky said.
He further stressed that in the cut and thrust of policing, mistakes will be made because the police live in an imperfect world.
"What I would like to request of you is that if during police operations something goes awry, please condemn the incident, but do not condemn the entire police force," Lecky urged.
