GENERATION 2000 (G2K), the group of young professionals associated with the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), yesterday called on the Government to redouble its efforts to increase the staff complement of the police force.
Stating that it was in solidarity with the Police Federation in demanding that their work conditions be drastically improved, G2K argued that insufficient staffing has resulted in a large number of problems which are wreaking havoc on the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
"The ratio for Jamaica today stands at one police officer to 350 citizens," the group said, while stressing that the internationally acceptable standard is one to 250.
G2K also said it recognised that the Government is not in a position to grant the desired 40-hour work week, but that the Ministry of National Security was being unrealistic in expecting the men and women of the JCF to continue to sacrifice themselves to their own detriment and that of their families because the ministry cannot find sufficient funds."
Policemen, the group said, are poorly remunerated, housed in dilapidated buildings, and have poor communication and other equipment with which to carry out their jobs of protecting the country.
LESS THAN HUMANE
According to a recent study conducted by the group, the average policeman has been working 72 to 100 hours per week in less than humane conditions at police stations. During this time, the group said, the policemen are asked "to face off with vicious criminal elements of the society".
G2K added: "The incidences of human rights abuse and other police excesses can be directly attributed to the stress resulting from these working conditions as over 80 per cent of the 300-plus officers who are pending trial for police excesses had worked for long periods without sufficient rest prior to the incident that has placed them on trial."
The group also claimed that 60 per cent of policemen with more than five years of service are currently suffering from one or more stress-related illness, ranging from hypertension, emotional
disorder to schizophrenia.
Furthermore, the group noted, there is only one clinical psychologist assigned to the Force, which has a staff complement in excess of 8,000.
