Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter 
Phillips
THE COUNTRY'S fight against crime and violence is expected to get a much needed boost come March 1 when a senior British law enforcement agent will officially join the ranks of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips made the disclosure yesterday at a press conference at his Oxford Road office in St. Andrew.
"He will be acting in a supernumerary position," Dr. Peter Phillips said. "We believe this development will complement the expertise and capabilities in the JCF.'
For some time now, influential voices in the private sector have been calling on the government to seek overseas help in the fight against crime and violence.
And while declining to say whether there were other British agents who will be arriving, the minister said the move had the full backing of Sir Ian Blair, the newly-appointed Commissioner of Police for the Metro-politan Force in London.
However, according to well-placed JCF sources, veteran Scotland Yard Detective, Mark Shields, who has under two years service remaining in the Metropolitan Force, is the man who has been given the job. As many as 10 other agents are said to be coming as his understudies.
A Superintendent chief in the United Kingdom's Police Force, Mr. Shields is presently in the island assisting local detectives with several key investigations. His salary will be paid by the Jamaican Government.
He was one of several overseas investigators who assisted with the investigation, of the controversial shooting in Kraal, Clarendon, in May 2002. Recently, he was asked to assist with the alleged abduction of two men by the police in December.
Reacting to the news, the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) said it has no objection to the principle, but will not sign
off on the action until the party is assured that the individual(s) are person(s) "properly qualified, experienced and very competent."
"We also would expect that (regarding) the individual(s) to be recruited ... their assignment would be for a limited period and that the person(s) bring to the office spectacular expertise," said Derrick Smith, the opposition spokesman on national security.
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Godfrey Dyer, whose organisation had been one of the leading voices calling for overseas assistance, described the move as a positive step in the right direction.
"I am very pleased that the Government has heeded the call of the JHTA to get expert help. The people who are coming are all experts in the crime fighting field," said an obviously pleased Godfrey Dyer last night. "This initiative will be the last opportunity to put things right."
Local human rights watchdog, Jamaicans For Justice said it too had "no objection, in principle, to the introduction of foreign police officers", stressing that this was a short to medium term solution. "If they are importing forensics and technology and accountability systems then we have no problems. The long-term solution is to transform the force," the group said.
JHTA, Opposition, endorse move off on the action until the party is assured that the individual(s) are person(s) "properly qualified, experienced and very competent."
"We also would expect ... their assignment would be for a limited period and that the person(s) bring to the office spectacular expertise," said Derrick Smith, the opposition spokesman on national security.
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Godfrey Dyer, whose organisation had been one of the leading voices calling for overseas assistance, described the move as a positive step in the right direction.
"I am very pleased that the Government has heeded the call of the JHTA to get expert help. The people who are coming are all experts in the crime fighting field," said an obviously pleased Godfrey Dyer last night. "This initiative will be the last opportunity to put things right."
Local human rights watchdog, Jamaicans For Justice said it too had "no objection, in principle, to the introduction of foreign police officers", stressing that this was a short to medium-term solution.
